As an example, Sibelco has supplied filter sand and gravel to Mitsubishi’s Shuqaiq 2 Independent Water and Power Project for the Assir region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the country with the largest production of desalinated water in the world, generating 7.6 million cubic meters a day.
At Shuqaiq, Sibelco’s sand and gravel are used in rapid multimedia filters to remove silts, solids, bacteria and parasites before the water is passed through micron cartridge filters prior to membrane treatment. This reduces fouling and clogging of the membrane which, in turn, allows for less frequent backwashing, higher water throughput, lower energy and backwash water consumption, plus a longer working life for the membranes and a reduction in maintenance and operational costs.
Using Sibelco’s sand and gravel, Shuqaiq produces over 200,000 cubic meters of clean water each day and can deal with the frequent severe sand storms during summer, which create high seawater turbidity. Sibelco is proud of this contribution to the supply of the world’s most precious, and under pressure, commodity – water.
Water consumption in numbers:
- Water consumption grows at twice the rate of population growth
- By 2050 demand for water is expected to exceed supply by 56%
- About 1.2 billion people live in water scarce areas
- More than 300 million people globally rely on desalinated water
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