Iranian Strikes Damage Kuwaiti Desalination Plant

On Friday, Iranian attacks targeted a power and water desalination facility in Kuwait, threatening a crucial source of drinking water for the arid nation. This incident follows a surge of assaults on essential infrastructure across the Middle East, highlighting significant weaknesses in one of the world’s most water-scarce regions. Countries in this area heavily depend on technology to generate the freshwater essential for urban life, tourism, industry, and limited agriculture.

Kuwaiti officials reported substantial damage to several power generation units, accompanied by a fire that has since been contained. In response, emergency contingency plans have been enacted. Desalination provides approximately 90% of Kuwait’s potable water. In Oman, it accounts for around 86%, and in Saudi Arabia, about 70%. The desalination process typically involves reverse osmosis, where salt is removed from seawater using ultrafine membranes.

Across the Persian Gulf coast, numerous desalination plants operate, supplying water to millions. This infrastructure is at risk from potential Iranian missile or drone attacks. Major cities, dependent on these facilities, would struggle to maintain their populations without them.

For those outside the Middle East, the conflict with Iran primarily affects energy prices, disrupting markets and causing oil price spikes. However, the threat to Gulf cities’ drinking water infrastructure is equally severe. Recent months have seen Iran targeting areas near key desalination plants in the Gulf.

In an earlier attack, the Doha West desalination facility in Kuwait suffered damage from debris linked to intercepted drones or nearby port attacks. Meanwhile, Iran accused the U.S. of targeting Iranian desalination facilities on Qeshm Island, which disrupted water supplies for 30 villages, although the U.S. has not confirmed the strike. In the past, Houthi rebels also focused on Saudi desalination plants amid regional conflicts.

Many desalination plants in the Gulf double as power stations, so strikes on electrical facilities could also impede water production. Desalination involves multiple stages from intake systems and treatment facilities to energy sources. Damage at any stage can halt production.

“More than 90% of the Gulf’s desalinated water comes from just 56 plants, and each of these critical plants is highly susceptible to sabotage or military action.”

In 2010, the CIA warned that attacks on desalination facilities might ignite national crises in several Gulf states. If critical equipment were destroyed, recovery from prolonged outages could take a considerable timeframe.

Desalination plants are not only at risk from conflict but also from climate change. Increasing ocean temperatures lead to more frequent and severe cyclones in the Arabian Sea, potentially causing storm surges and extreme rainfalls that could overwhelm the infrastructure.

Contributions to the report were made by Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel. The Associated Press’s environmental coverage receives support from the Walton Family Foundation.