MWSC Studies Deep-Sea Water Plant as Greater Malé Faces Land Constraints

Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) has begun studying the feasibility of establishing an underwater water production facility in the Greater Malé Region as limited land availability increasingly constrains the development of conventional water plants.

Speaking on Voice of Maldives’ "Ahaashey Bunaanan" programme, MWSC Managing Director Hussain Fahmy said the proposed facility would draw seawater from a depth of around 500 metres in waters between Malé and Villingili.

The project is among MWSC’s major long-term initiatives to strengthen water supply in Malé and Hulhumalé while addressing the shortage of land available for expanding water production infrastructure.

Fahmy said MWSC is also planning a separate project to supply water to Malé through the bridge currently being constructed between Malé and Thilafushi. Under the plan, a water storage facility would be established in Thilafushi and brought into operation by the time the bridge is completed.

The Thilafushi project is being pursued in collaboration with the government as part of broader efforts to strengthen water security across the Greater Malé Region.

Meanwhile, work on the proposed deep-sea water facility is progressing under a Memorandum of Understanding signed with a Norwegian expert team. Feasibility, technical and Environmental Impact Assessment studies are currently underway, while assessments are also being conducted to determine the investment required for underwater water production.

MWSC expects physical work on the project to begin by the middle of next year, subject to the findings of the ongoing studies.

Fahmy said extracting seawater from a depth of around 500 metres could offer several advantages over conventional sources. Deep-ocean water is generally cleaner and contains fewer organic materials than water drawn from shallower sources, which could make the treatment process more efficient.

He also said the proposed system could reduce energy requirements and make the discharge of brine produced during desalination easier to manage.

If proven technically and financially viable, Fahmy said the project could reduce water production costs while providing a long-term solution to the shortage of land available for water plants in Malé.

The Norwegian team involved in the initiative has also invited MWSC officials to visit Norway to inspect similar projects already in operation.

MWSC believes the successful adoption of deep-sea water extraction and desalination could mark a significant development for the Maldives, where limited land and growing urban demand continue to place pressure on essential infrastructure.