A Comparative Review of Conventional and Emerging Water Desalination Technologies: Efficiency, Cost, and Environmental Impact

With increasing global freshwater scarcity, water desalination has become essential for sustainable water supply. This review provides a concise comparison of conventional and emerging desalination technologies, focusing on energy efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. Traditional methods like Multi-Stage Flash (MSF), Multi-Effect Distillation (MED), and Reverse Osmosis (RO) are evaluated for their reliability and scale, while newer approaches—Electrodialysis (ED), Vapor Compression (VC), Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH), and Solar Desalination—are examined for their potential in low-energy and decentralized applications. The review highlights the growing integration of renewable energy sources, especially solar, in desalination systems and discusses the role of hybrid configurations for enhanced performance. Environmental concerns such as brine disposal and carbon emissions are addressed alongside economic factors like operational cost and water production rate. Findings suggest that technology selection should be site-specific, balancing water quality, energy availability, and sustainability goals. This study serves as a practical guide for future development in efficient and eco-friendly desalination strategies.