Drinking Water in Aruba
There is no need to buy bottled water in Aruba, the island's tap water is pure and refreshing, distilled by WEB since 1932 in one of the world's largest saltwater desalination plants. It is truly delicious! In fact, Aruban drinking water has been dubbed 'the champagne of the Caribbean.'The Desalination Plant
In a world with an acute shortage of fresh water, turning salt water into fresh water has become an art that solves the problem of water supply to people and industries thirsty for high-quality fresh water. Aruba doesn't have natural fresh water sources such as ground water, rivers or lakes, therefore drinking water is produced by seawater desalination.WEB currently uses the leading desalination technology - SWRO, Seawater Reverse Osmosis. The SWRO technology consists of electric pumps that generate high pressure, forcing seawater through semi-permeable membranes; converting seawater into drinking water. The water passes through many different forms of filters and then is treated in a modern re-mineralization process to absorb important minerals like calcium. This gives the water its delicious taste. In addition, the water is chemically tested daily to meet stringent quality requirements.
The WEB plant at Balashi does offer tours, and it is a worthwhile experience for technically interested people! Very friendly guides provide safety helmets and then share fascinating information as you drive around the plant.