Desalination systems from Townsville, turning seawater and salty bore water into fresh water for remote, coastal and industrial sites across Queensland.
Drinking water from any source, including desalination, is benchmarked against the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Desalination removes dissolved salt from seawater, salty bore water and hypersaline mine or process water, producing water you can drink, use in process or discharge. We design, supply and service reverse osmosis desalination systems for camps, coastal and island facilities, farms and industrial sites.
Start with your water source
The type of salty water you have decides the system you need.
Seawater
Highest salt content
Typical sites
Island and coastal facilities, boats, marinas and coastal industry.
What it needs
High-pressure pumps, seawater membranes and corrosion-resistant materials.
Brackish bore water
Moderate salt content
Typical sites
Farms, camps, remote communities and inland industry on bores.
What it needs
Brackish water RO, which costs less to build and run than seawater systems.
Hypersaline water
Very high salt content
Typical sites
Mine pits, saline process streams and evaporation pond water.
What it needs
Specialist pre-treatment and brine management, designed to your site conditions.
Not sure how salty your water is? Send us a water analysis and we will tell you.
How desalination works
Water is pushed through reverse osmosis membranes at high pressure, which hold back dissolved salts. The fresh water passes through, and the salt leaves in a concentrated stream called brine. Pre-treatment, such as ultrafiltration, protects the membranes, and the brine is managed to your site’s discharge or disposal requirements, for example by approved discharge, evaporation or reuse.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity range | From about 1,100 L/day (300 gallons per day) upwards, sized to your daily volume |
| Formats | Skid-mounted, containerised or portable |
| Feed water types | Seawater, brackish groundwater, hypersaline water |
| Materials | FRP membrane housings and duplex (2205) or 316L stainless steel high-pressure pumps for seawater service |
| Service | Membrane replacement, cleaning and maintenance from Townsville |
What we need to size a system
A recent water analysis, including total dissolved solids (TDS)
The daily volume of fresh water you need
What the water is for: drinking, process or irrigation
How brine can be managed on your site
Power available on site
Your site location and access
Desalination FAQs
What is the difference between seawater and brackish water desalination?
Seawater contains far more dissolved salt than brackish water, so it needs higher-pressure pumps, different membranes and more corrosion-resistant materials. Brackish water systems cost less to build and run.
Can bore water be desalinated?
Yes. Salty bore water is commonly treated with brackish water reverse osmosis. A water analysis shows which system your bore needs.
What happens to the brine from desalination?
The concentrated brine has to be managed to your site’s environmental conditions, for example by approved discharge, evaporation or reuse. We factor this into the design.
How much fresh water does desalination produce from the feed?
It depends on how salty the feed water is. Saltier water gives a lower share of fresh water. We confirm the expected recovery from your water analysis.
What sizes and formats do your desalination systems come in?
Systems start from about 1,100 L/day (300 gallons per day) and are sized to your daily volume. They come skid-mounted, containerised or as portable units.
What materials are used for seawater desalination?
Seawater is corrosive, so our seawater units use FRP membrane housings and duplex (2205) or 316L stainless steel high-pressure pumps.
Do you service desalination systems?
Yes. We replace membranes, clean and maintain systems from Townsville.
How much does a desalination system cost?
Every system is quoted individually. The main factors are how salty your water is, the daily volume, the format and how the brine will be managed. Send us a water analysis and we will come back with a recommendation and price.
What do you need to size a desalination system?
A recent water analysis including total dissolved solids (TDS), the daily volume of fresh water you need, what the water is for, how brine can be managed, and the power available at your site.
Need fresh water from a salty source?
Send us your water analysis and daily volume, and we will recommend a desalination system. The analysis and recommendation are obligation-free.