The Water Standard Company Advantage
Water Standard Company's approach is different to land-based options in important ways:
  • Environmental. The Seawater Desalination Vessel (SDV) significantly mitigates environmental impact on the ocean, marine life, coastlines, and air.
  • Smaller carbon footprint. The SDV in many instances will have a smaller carbon footprint than land-based options because it is more fuel efficient; its ability to produce power onboard eliminates line loss associated with land-based power plants; it does not need water to produce power, thus further reducing energy consumption; and it does not rely on land-based power often fueled by coal.
  • Power. The SDVs can generate their own power. There is no need to be located near or connected to a power grid, or to make power to produce water. If, however, land-based prices dictate, power can be taken from shore and these costs can be hedged.
  • Water Source. Because the SDVs are located offshore in deeper water, intake water is cleaner. This reduces pretreatment and waste disposal costs, requires less chemicals usage, and produces no sludge.
  • Design. The technology uses a standard modular design on a vessel, so it can be replicated. There is reduced need for site-specific design.
  • Scalability. The SDVs can be easily scaled from an optimum 20,000 to 300,000 cubic meters per day, and both large and small vessels can be designed.
  • Water Displacement Solution. Water Standard Company provides a regional solution that enables the redistribution of existing sources between regions through displacement.
  • Emergency Supply. The SDV's mobility allows them to provide water during emergencies such as natural disasters, security challenges, or other unexpected requirements.
  • Risk Management. Investment risk is minimized in several ways. Because they are mobile, the vessels can be moved in the event of geopolitical or socioeconomic instability or non-payment, thus protecting the capital investment. Since they are already on the ocean, they cannot be affected by rising sea levels caused by global warming. Additionally, there is no need for expensive coastal land and infrastructure.
  • Fuel Costs. Fuel costs can be hedged, because Water Standard has flexibility on fuel feedstock based on local markets, environmental considerations, and availability.
  • Location. The vessels can locate anywhere on a coastline and are not site-dependent. The ideal location is two to five kilometers offshore, but that can be adjusted based on local conditions. There is no need for expensive coastal land.
  • OPEX & CAPEX Costs. Operating costs and capital expenses are lower in many cases than land-based operations.
  • Development Time. Timelines to production are significantly shorter than land-based alternatives – 18 to 24 months under normal circumstances – and all necessary skill sets are available in the shipyard.
The Water Standard Company
The technologies and processes WSC has developed are receiving global attention:
  • "With a technology such as (the SDV), desalination soon may leave the realm of wishful thinking and become one of he world's primary means to augment clean, environmentally responsible, reliable global water supplies," according to an article in the Journal of the American Water Works Association.
  • Referring to Australia, Global Water Intelligence reported, "A country where the population is concentrated around the coastline is ideally suited to the benefits offered by WSC's Seawater Desalination Vessel."
  • Judges in the 2007 Global Water Awards called the SDV an "important new direction in the evolution of the desalination industry."