From salt to solution: desalination technology paves the way for sustainable water management

Water shortages are increasingly common, putting a squeeze on water supply for irrigation. In the face of water scarcity, it’s increasingly important to use water as effectively as possible.

Coal beds are a source of methane, or natural gas. To extract the methane, oil and gas producers must first pump out any water that accumulates in the well, inhibiting the flow of gas. This water is surprisingly clean thanks to the natural filtering effect of carbon coal. However, while parched fields sit thirsty, the water is usually disposed of in an approved oilfield disposal well. That’s because it often contains a high concentration of dissolved ions, or salt, and salty water isn’t good for crops.

Affordable desalination could transform this water resource, and Calgary-based Ionic Solutions believe they have just the solution. Their approach to desalination addresses water quality concerns, but promises to do so for less cost and less environmental impact.

Jordan Grose, executive vice president of Ionic Solutions, showcasing the C-EDR desalination technology.

“Our technology offers a solution that can make previously unusable water sources viable for various applications, helping to mitigate the impact of water shortages we are beginning to feel here in Alberta, and globally,” says Jordan Grose, executive vice president of Ionic Solutions.

Traditional desalination uses reverse osmosis, which forces saltwater through a semipermeable membrane at high pressure. This filters out the salt, but requires a lot of energy. Ionic Solutions have developed an advanced desalination technology based on electrodialysis, which they call C-EDR (Capacitive Electrodialysis Reversal). The technology passes saltwater across an ion exchange membrane where an electric field separates the charged salt ions, removing them from the water.

C-EDR represents a significant improvement from traditional desalination. The technology operates at just 30 psi – about the same pressure as household water taps – compared to the 300 to 1800 psi required for reverse osmosis. The result is clean desalinated water that is more energy efficient and cost-effective.

In collaboration with Ember Resources and with the support of Alberta Innovates, Ionic Solutions is exploring how C-EDR could transform coal bed methane produced water into valuable agricultural water. So far, they’ve found that after treatment with C-EDR, the resulting water is actually cleaner than other water sources currently used for irrigation. This could set a new standard for water reuse, demonstrating that water co-produced from coal bed methane wells can be repurposed safely and effectively.

The next step is to trial the purified water in an agricultural setting where it could be used to irrigate greenhouse crops, for example.

“Local growers have provided valuable insight into their water needs, especially during drought conditions. It has helped us understand the challenges they face and how our technology can offer solutions,” says Grose. “Now, we aim to show how the technology can meet the needs of these local agricultural operations, especially during droughts when water shortages can affect crop production.

Alberta Innovates has also played a crucial role in advancing the project.

“Working with Alberta Innovates on this project allowed us to get exposure to other water industries that we weren’t a part of and to gain a better understanding of how our technology can address broader water issues facing our province, the country and the world,” says Grose. “The project wouldn’t have flown without their funding, and the impact has been transformational in demonstrating the possibilities out there.”

The agricultural pilot is set to begin in 2025, but regulatory barriers remain. There is currently no existing regulatory pathway for repurposing water produced from oil and gas operations for other uses like agriculture. Instead, regulations mandate that such water must be disposed of. The team is hoping C-EDR’s encouraging performance results will convince regulatory bodies to create new pathways for the reuse of treated water.

Ionic Solutions' mobile water treatment unit.

In the meantime, Ionic Solutions has turned to a different saltwater challenge in Calgary. Road salt keeps drivers safe, but it can also contaminate stormwater ponds used for irrigation. Ionic Solutions has designed a mobile C-EDR water treatment unit that will desalinate the stormwater used to water trees at a local golf course. They are also piloting other applications of the technology for the power sector in Saskatchewan and New York.

Ionic Solutions’ approach to desalination is an important step towards more sustainable water management. With continued support from project partners like Alberta Innovates, this versatile technology is poised to address a wide variety of water quality challenges.

This article is part of Making Waves, an annual Alberta Innovates publication highlighting water solutions we support. You can read more stories from this issue below.