Desalination plant targets may impact Gulf regions water supply

Bahrain Reports Damage to Desalination Plant Following Iranian Drone Attack

A drone attack by Iran has caused material damage to a water desalination plant in Bahrain, marking the first reported incident of its kind in the Gulf region during the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US and Israel. The attack occurred on Sunday.

According to reports, the attack was carried out by an Iranian drone, which targeted the desalination plant in Share Save Bahrain. The incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of the Gulf region’s water supply infrastructure.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously stated that a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in southern Iran was attacked by the US. He warned that attacking Iran’s infrastructure would have grave consequences and set a dangerous precedent.

The attack on Bahrain has highlighted the importance of desalination plants in the Gulf region, which rely heavily on these facilities for their water supply due to limited natural freshwater resources. Desalination plants convert seawater into drinking water and irrigation water, using thermal or membrane-based technologies.

According to the US Department of Energy, desalination systems involve heating seawater to evaporate impurities, followed by condensation back into a liquid. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) primarily uses reverse osmosis, an energy-efficient technique that accounts for about 60% of global water desalination capacity.

The region’s reliance on desalination plants is due to the arid climate and limited natural freshwater resources. Groundwater and desalinated water account for approximately 90% of the region’s main water resources, according to a 2020 report by the Gulf Research Center. The number of desalination plants in the Arabian Gulf has increased significantly, with over 400 facilities located along the shores from the UAE to Kuwait.

The attack on Bahrain has raised questions about the security of the Gulf region’s water supply and the potential consequences of targeting energy and civilian sites during the conflict.

Source: Al Jazeera