Saudi Arabia plans to expand the use of new drinking water purification technology.

RIYADH April 1, 2025: Saudi Arabia will expand the use of new technology to purify drinking water using an electrical charge following an agreement for its implementation over the next four years.

Capacitive deionization technology will treat around 3,500 cubic meters of water per day, providing clean drinking water.

Stockholm Water Technology has signed an agreement with Saudi company DRC-ChemTec to deploy the technology over the next four years.

The Swedish company has also proposed using this technology to treat wastewater in the Kingdom for agricultural use. This proposal includes plans to remove micropollutants, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals from treated wastewater.

The technology works by passing an electrical current through water to remove contaminants without the need for membrane filters or chemical treatment.

Currently, Saudi Arabia mainly relies on two methods of desalination to provide clean drinking water: thermal desalination and reverse osmosis.

Thermal desalination uses fossil fuels to heat and evaporate seawater, collecting the clean condensation, while reverse osmosis passes water through a membrane filter to remove contaminants.

Capacitive deionization has the potential to reduce waste and energy consumption in water purification.

“Saudi Arabia’s water treatment market is leading sustainable practices, driven by the urgent need for clean, safe water and growing focus on recycling and reuse,” said Karthik Laxman, CEO of Stockholm Water Technology.

Husam Aljarba, strategic business development director at DRC-ChemTec, noted that the flexibility of the SWT water treatment systems will offer unique value to residential and industrial customers.

Stockholm Water Technology will supply 1,750 systems, initially focusing on providing drinking water, before expanding into industrial and municipal wastewater treatment.

DRC-ChemTec will handle the installation, servicing, and local production of associated parts.

Desalination provides about 75 percent of Saudi Arabia's water supply, with the Kingdom producing over 13.2 million cubic meters of water daily.