Maintenance and Engineering

Desalination Plant Operation

Desalination supplies drinking water to many cities, especially in arid regions. This course covers desalination technologies including reverse osmosis and thermal processes, pretreatment, membrane performance and fouling, cleaning, energy recovery, post-treatment, brine management, monitoring and maintenance.

5 days Classroom or live online English

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Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Efficient desalination operation lowers water cost and extends equipment life. You will learn the operational knowledge needed to run desalination plants.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Process explanations, performance calculation exercises, troubleshooting cases and maintenance planning.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain desalination technologies
Operate pretreatment systems
Monitor membrane performance and fouling
Plan membrane cleaning
Use energy recovery devices
Manage post-treatment and brine discharge

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Desalination plant operators and engineers
Water utility staff
Maintenance technicians
Process engineers
Water quality professionals

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Process operation
Performance monitoring
Fouling control
Energy management
Environmental compliance

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Desalination Technologies

09:00–10:08Reverse osmosis
10:08–11:00Thermal desalination
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Thermal desalination (continued)
11:45–12:53Plant layout
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Pretreatment

09:00–10:08Intake and screening
10:08–11:00Filtration
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Filtration (continued)
11:45–12:53Chemical dosing
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Membranes

09:00–10:08Membrane performance
10:08–11:00Normalisation
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Normalisation (continued)
11:45–12:53Fouling and scaling
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 4Cleaning and Energy

09:00–10:08Cleaning procedures
10:08–11:00Energy recovery devices
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Energy recovery devices (continued)
11:45–12:53Efficiency
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Post-Treatment and Brine

09:00–10:08Remineralisation
10:08–11:00Brine management
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Brine management (continued)
11:45–12:53Monitoring
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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