Latin America’s desalination industry has become a cornerstone of regional water security, spanning over 8.5 million square kilometers of coastline — from Mexico’s Pacific and Caribbean shores to Chile’s vast Pacific corridor. Across this diverse geography, the region faces a wide spectrum of water scarcity challenges: from the arid Atacama Desert to tropical coastal zones increasingly affected by drought and population growth.
Chile stands out as the regional pioneer, having consolidated desalination as a strategic solution for both industrial and municipal supply. With 24 operational plants delivering over 10,000 l/s — and around 30 new projects in engineering or construction stages — Chile continues to expand its desalination capacity, with a total national portfolio estimated at over US $24 billion. While the mining sector leads with roughly US $9 billion, the industrial and sanitary segments contribute the largest installed capacity, underscoring the growing diversification and strategic relevance of desalination across the national water matrix.
This progress is now inspiring replication across Latin America, as Peru, Mexico, and Brazil accelerate the planning and development of large-scale desalination projects to strengthen water resilience and industrial competitiveness. As climate change intensifies drought cycles and demand for water grows, desalination is evolving from a localized solution into a strategic regional necessity — reshaping how Latin America plans, finances, and operates its water infrastructure.
