How to choose a desalination system
Start with the source water and service demand. Choose a catalogue route only after the required output, installation and proposal boundaries are clear.
Published by SEAMASTER Desalination · Updated 30 September 2026 · Preliminary selection guidance
1. Identify the feed-water duty
State whether the source is seawater, a well, a borehole or another brackish-water source. Provide the sampling date, conductivity, temperature and laboratory report. A catalogue conductivity class is a selection boundary; it does not replace an analysis or justify extrapolating a model beyond its published duty.
2. Convert demand into production duty
Preliminary hourly output = required daily product-water volume ÷ daily production hours. For an illustrative demand of 2,400 L/day and 8 hours of production, the arithmetic requirement is 300 L/h. This example describes demand, not the guaranteed output of a named model. Allow the engineering review to account for actual feed conditions and operating availability.
Storage handles the difference between production and consumption over time. It must be reviewed alongside peak demand, planned downtime and the required reserve. An oversized catalogue number does not replace a storage or redundancy plan.
3. Match the installation route
| Product family | Starting point | Next verification |
|---|---|---|
| DESAL YACHT | Compact marine watermaking | Space, intake, electrical supply and onboard storage |
| DESAL-BWRO | Brackish-water configurations | Feed chemistry, conductivity class and pretreatment |
| DESAL-SWRO | Seawater RO plant duty | Intake quality, membrane duty and discharge |
| BOX DESAL SWRO | Containerized project architecture | Site interfaces, package scope, access and commissioning |
4. Compare complete proposal boundaries
Use the same required output and feed conditions when comparing proposals. Identify whether pretreatment, post-treatment, controls, pumps, storage interfaces, transport, installation and commissioning are included. Compare whole-plant energy at the agreed duty, operating availability and maintenance requirements rather than an isolated headline price.
5. Check the model record before ordering
Record the model name and catalogue code. Confirm the source datasheet, dimensions, electrical duty, materials, quoted capacity basis and delivery scope. Ask for missing documents instead of borrowing specifications from a neighbouring model.
Questions answered
How do I size a desalination system?
Divide the required daily product-water volume by realistic daily production hours, then review storage, peaks, downtime, feed conditions and the confirmed performance basis. This gives a preliminary output requirement, not a final equipment guarantee.
Is a watermaker price the total installed project cost?
No. Compare the quoted equipment scope, pretreatment, post-treatment, intake, discharge, electrical works, transport, commissioning and service. SEAMASTER published equipment prices are net EUR, excluding VAT, on an EXW basis.
Can conductivity alone confirm the correct RO model?
No. Conductivity can help identify a catalogue route, but the final configuration requires source-water chemistry, temperature, fouling risk and required product-water quality.
What should I send to request a technical proposal?
Send the location, application, current water analysis, daily demand, production hours, product-water requirements, electrical supply, installation space, storage and discharge constraints. Include the selected catalogue model and code if available.