Floating Desalination Docks Offer Ecological Water Solutions
Desalination plants provide drinking water in regions where it is scarce, yet they often come with environmental drawbacks. They burn fossil fuels, emit substantial atmospheric pollutants, and produce hypersaline brine that can harm marine life. A California company has introduced a portable, modular, and eco-friendly desalination system intended to mitigate these issues while delivering reliable fresh water.
Oneka Technologies markets three types of floating docks that function like buoys, with variations in size and capacity. The largest model, known as the Iceberg, measures about 6.5 meters in length. Its core benefit is the ability to harness energy from wave motion to power its operations, reducing the need for external power sources.
As the desalination unit rides the swell, it draws seawater through a filtration system and then pushes it through a reverse osmosis membrane to remove salts and other small particulates. The result is purified water produced on site and ready for distribution.
This proprietary device can generate up to 53,000 liters of freshwater per day. Dragan Tutic, founder and director of Oneka Technologies, notes that the compact footprint makes the system sizable enough to supply around 43 mid-sized homes. The modular design also allows operators to add additional units to increase overall throughput as demand grows.
The first version was released in 2016 and has been refined since then. A major design hurdle was ensuring the equipment could withstand wave impact during storms. The latest generation of the floating desalination unit can endure waves up to six meters high and remains removable and reassemblable for deployment under more extreme conditions.
There are three models currently available from Oneka. The Iceberg model is notable for its construction materials and the fact that it uses wave energy to drive the filtration and pumping stages. The buoy sits anchored to the seabed, designed to operate in seas with an average wave height near one meter. Energy is captured as waves pass through the buoy, which then powers mechanical pumping that pushes filtered water toward shore through high-density polyethylene pipes, while still leveraging wave motion for propulsion.
As with all desalination processes, the system generates some saline byproducts. In Oneka’s approach, the brine is produced in very low concentrations, and company leadership emphasizes that the overall environmental impact on the ocean is minimal when managed properly.
Made from Recycled Plastic
The Iceberg model is built from recycled plastic bottles, with each unit comprising roughly 170,000 bottles. This sustainable approach means fewer plastics end up in landfills or the oceans, a point emphasized by the company’s leadership. Regular maintenance, anticipated at three to seven visits per year, allows each Iceberg module to remain in active service for 15 to 20 years.
Alongside the larger Iceberg, Oneka also offers smaller, more portable variants that serve as a versatile solution for coastal communities and remote installations. The design philosophy centers on modularity, ease of transport, and rapid deployment, making it possible to scale water production quickly where it is needed most.
Even though single units cannot meet the water demands of large populations, Oneka’s team is pursuing broader applications with a public service orientation. Plans include a larger system capable of producing ten times the water of a single Iceberg module. This concept envisions deployment at scale, potentially delivering significant relief to communities facing water stress in a more efficient way.
The Glacier Class is the name given to this forthcoming model. It is positioned as a high-capacity alternative intended for municipal use. Trials are planned in a coastal town of Barrington, Nova Scotia, Canada, with a population of around 4,000 residents. The goal is to demonstrate reliable water generation at scale while maintaining the compact, modular advantages of the smaller units.
As this project progresses, the team continues to refine production methods, ensuring that the systems remain robust, easy to service, and adaptable to various marine environments. The overarching aim is to deliver a consistent supply of freshwater without sacrificing marine ecosystems or placing excessive demand on energy resources.
In terms of outreach, the environment department is tracking this initiative for potential broader adoption. The project exemplifies how innovation in desalination can align with sustainability goals, supporting coastal communities with fresh water while minimizing environmental footprints.
Overall, Oneka Technologies presents a compelling model of how floating, modular desalination can complement traditional water infrastructure. By leveraging wave energy, using recycled materials, and pursuing scalable designs, the company seeks to address water scarcity with a system that is both practical and environmentally conscious.