Early Desalination in the Caribbean with a Focus on the Netherlands Antilles

Although there is evidence of desalination in the Caribbean as early as the late 17th or early 18th centuries, it was not employed commercially until the development of multi-effect distillation in the mid 19th century. Even then it was rare and sporadic. However the installation of a thermal vapor compression system in Curacao in 1928 initiated the continuous use of desalination as a source of municipal water supply to the present day. Since 1928, the former Netherlands Antilles (including Aruba, Binaire, Curacao and Sint Maarten) have experienced the broadest range of technologies and suppliers over the longest period of any region in the world. It is a fascinating history and will be told in as much detail as time allows. How does this apply to water and wastewater operators? It reminds them that they are only the current link in a long long chain going back several generations.

This presentation is available to AMTA Members only.