深夜的麦加，沿街的水龙头不再像二十多年前那样时断时续。住户家的屋顶还留着厚重的储水箱，那是2000年前后的记忆：每隔三天才供一次水，24小时之 内抓紧蓄满，谁家忘了开阀，接下来的两天只能"省着用"。如今，靠着沿红海岸线铺展的取水口、管廊和反渗透车间，麦加和麦地那这些城市习惯了全天候 的水声。这不是自然赐予，而是工程把海洋搬进了日常。 供水秩序的转折点 与老一辈的用水焦虑做个对照，更能看出这场改变的密度。沙特国土辽阔，接近内蒙古加西藏的面积，却找不出一条超过一公里的天然河道。年均降雨不到 100毫米，蒸发量倒是几倍于此，天空慷慨赐下的水，很快又被阳光带走。早年人口少，地下水和从邻国购水还能勉强维系。石油工业一兴起，人口猛增， 城乡用水像潮水一样往上涌，旧办法就跟不上了。 于是从上世纪50年代开始，这个国家把目光投向海，把海水变成可饮可用的资源。几十年熬过来，今天全国每天要淡化超过1300万吨的海水，折算一下，足 以灌满260亿瓶半升装的矿泉水。淡化水占全国用水一半以上，这个比例在全球少见。远在内陆的利雅得也能通过管道喝到来自海边的水，工程的触角比沙 漠风还长。 夹在这条时间线中间，有段不太体面的阶段——为控制用 ...

Core Viewpoint - The seawater desalination equipment industry in China is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing demand for freshwater resources and technological advancements in desalination methods [2][6]. Industry Overview - Seawater desalination equipment is essential for converting seawater into freshwater through various methods, primarily reverse osmosis, which is currently the most efficient and energy-saving technology [4]. - The market size for seawater desalination equipment in China is projected to reach 18 billion yuan in 2024, up from 14 billion yuan in 2020, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 6.48% [2]. Industry Chain Analysis - The upstream of the seawater desalination equipment industry includes materials like stainless steel and titanium alloys, while the midstream involves manufacturing by companies such as Shuangliang Energy and Tianjin Membrane Technology [5]. - The downstream applications are diverse, covering municipal water supply, industrial water use, and specialized processes, with increasing market demand supported by government policies [5]. Market Status - The total output value of China's seawater desalination and comprehensive utilization industry is expected to reach 33.7 billion yuan in 2024, showing a year-on-year growth of 3.90% [6]. - Government initiatives, such as guidelines for accelerating the development of water-saving industries, are providing strong support for the industry's growth [6]. Competitive Landscape - The industry features a mix of domestic and international brands, with companies like Shuangliang Energy and Tianjin Membrane Technology making notable advancements in technology and market expansion [7]. - As competition intensifies, companies are required to enhance their technological capabilities and service quality to maintain market position [7]. Development Trends - Future innovations will focus on developing new reverse osmosis membrane materials and energy recovery devices to improve desalination efficiency and reduce energy consumption [8]. - The demand for seawater desalination is expected to grow, particularly in urban water supply and sectors like power, petrochemicals, and agriculture, especially in arid regions [8].

Core Viewpoint - The compilation of the Ecological Environment Code marks a milestone in China's ecological civilization legal construction, providing a comprehensive legal framework for water pollution prevention and control [3][10]. Group 1: Water Pollution Prevention - The specialized section on "Water Pollution Prevention" in the Code outlines clear regulations for key areas such as industry, urban areas, agriculture, and shipping, aiming to protect water quality [3][5]. - The core value of seawater desalination technology is to provide additional water resources for coastal areas facing water scarcity, while also offering advanced separation technologies applicable to various pollution control challenges [5][10]. Group 2: Industrial Wastewater Treatment - Technologies developed for zero discharge of industrial wastewater have been successfully implemented in projects like the distillation wastewater treatment in Fujian, achieving zero discharge and reuse of saline wastewater [5][6]. - The treatment technology for high-salinity heavy metal wastewater in Henan demonstrates effective recovery of precious metals and supports the Code's requirements for heavy metal pollution prevention and resource recovery [5][6]. Group 3: Agricultural and Rural Pollution Control - Innovative ecological solutions for treating aquaculture wastewater have been developed, utilizing microbial purification and multi-level nutrient coordination to meet the Code's requirements for agricultural non-point source pollution control [7][9]. - Successful applications of these technologies have been reported in various regions, significantly improving wastewater discharge standards [7][9]. Group 4: Technological Innovations - The development of comprehensive water ecological governance technologies integrates various agents and methods to effectively address issues like eutrophication and black-odor water bodies [9][10]. - The emphasis on technological innovation is crucial for the implementation of the Code, with a focus on transforming technical advantages into dual benefits of increased water resources and reduced pollution [10].

Core Insights - The Algerian government has invested $2.4 billion to build five desalination plants, increasing the share of desalinated water in the total water supply from 18% to 42% [1] - The government plans to construct six additional desalination plants by 2030 to alleviate water scarcity and improve the quality of life for citizens [1] - Algeria faces severe water shortages due to frequent droughts, making desalination a critical solution [1] Company Involvement - The Oran desalination project, with a capacity of 300,000 tons, is the first large-scale desalination facility built by a Chinese company in Algeria, showcasing China's engineering capabilities [1][2] - The project utilizes advanced reverse osmosis membrane technology for effective salt and impurity removal, producing high-quality freshwater [2] - The project is expected to benefit over 2 million people and provide a stable water source for agricultural development [2] Local Impact - Chinese companies are actively involved in local talent development, with Algerian employees gaining advanced technical and management skills during the project [2] - The Algerian government has established 23 desalination plants with a total daily capacity of 1.5 million tons, with ongoing projects to further enhance water supply [2] - Algeria aims to recycle 60% of wastewater for agricultural irrigation by 2030, with significant room for improvement in wastewater treatment efficiency [2] Broader Implications - The involvement of Chinese enterprises in Algeria's desalination projects is seen as a significant contribution to addressing water scarcity, promoting local employment, and supporting sustainable development [3]

Core Insights - The desalination industry in China is experiencing significant growth, with a total of 156 desalination projects in operation by the end of 2023, achieving a processing capacity of 2.523 million tons per day, representing a year-on-year increase of 7% [1][4][8] Industry Overview - Desalination is a technology that converts seawater into freshwater, providing a stable water supply for coastal residents and industries, unaffected by time and climate [1] - The cost of desalination has been decreasing due to advancements in technology, with energy consumption for processing one cubic meter of seawater dropping from 5 kWh to less than 3 kWh over the past 20 years [1] Project Scale and Distribution - Among the existing desalination projects, those with a capacity of 1 million tons per day or more account for 230,000 tons per day, which is 92% of the total capacity [2] - The top three provinces in terms of desalination capacity are Zhejiang (800,000 tons/day), Shandong (710,000 tons/day), and Hebei (390,000 tons/day) [4][6] Regional Concentration - Zhejiang, Shandong, and Hebei together account for 75% of the total desalination capacity in China, highlighting a significant regional concentration in the industry [6] Growth Trends - In 2023, five provinces saw growth in desalination capacity, with Fujian leading at a 26% increase, followed by Shandong at 18%, and Guangdong at 10% [9] Technology Utilization - The predominant technology used in desalination projects includes reverse osmosis, which accounts for approximately 66% of the total capacity, while low-temperature multi-effect and multi-stage flash technologies account for about 32% and 0.2%, respectively [11]