How did desalination plants change Kuwait’s water supply?

Before the construction of desalination plants, Kuwait relied on limited artesian wells, rainwater collection, and water imported by dhows from the Shatt al-Arab near Basra, Iraq. Because naturally occurring fresh water is scarce, the country was dependent on these external sources until after World War II.12

To accommodate rapid population growth, the government built desalination plants at locations such as Kuwait City and Al-Shu’aybah. These facilities fundamentally transformed the nation's water supply by providing the great bulk of Kuwait’s daily consumption of potable water. While other sources of fresh water have been discovered, desalination remains the primary method for meeting the country's water needs. Today, Kuwait is one of the world's largest producers of desalinated water.13