According to Reuters News Service, global demand for water is growing between 5 percent and 10 percent each year. As a result of this increased need, global investment in desalination will reach $20 billion over the next five years, with $14 million of these investments in the Middle East.
In the past 25 years, desalination has become a much more viable option for the production of fresh water. Improvements in technology and growing competition in the desalination industry have led to a drop in the cost of desalinated water.