Iranian Strikes Threaten Gulf Desalination Infrastructure

Recent Iranian drone attacks have targeted critical water and power facilities in the Gulf region, including desalination plants in Kuwait. While these strikes have caused damage, experts suggest that a single attack is unlikely to completely disrupt the water supply. The desalination system in the Gulf is designed with redundancy and storage capabilities that can absorb isolated disruptions without immediate impact on water availability.

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The drone strikes have specifically damaged two power and desalination facilities in Kuwait and ignited fires at two oil sites. Other facilities, such as those in Fujairah, UAE, have been identified as potentially vulnerable to similar attacks. Rabee Rustum, a professor of water and environmental engineering at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, emphasizes that the design of the desalination system allows for a buffer against sudden disruptions. “In the Gulf, desalination is built with enough breathing room that losing one plant doesn’t immediately show up at the tap,” he states.

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Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, notes that while striking desalination plants could be seen as a strategic move, it risks crossing significant legal and moral boundaries. He explains that water infrastructure is vital for civilian survival, public health, and state legitimacy. “Attacks on water systems carry such grave legal and moral weight,” Krieg adds, highlighting the special protections afforded to civilian objects under international humanitarian law.

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The Gulf's desalination network is structured to mitigate the effects of attacks. Facilities are distributed along the coastline, allowing for the redistribution of water supply if one plant is compromised. Additionally, water is stored in various locations, including central reservoirs and building-level tanks, which helps delay any potential disruption in service. Veolia, an environmental services provider, states that the region's water supply is diversified, further enhancing its resilience against targeted strikes.

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Critics of the Iranian strikes argue that targeting essential civilian infrastructure undermines international humanitarian principles. The attacks not only threaten immediate water supply but also pose long-term risks to public health and safety in the region.

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• “In the Gulf, desalination is built with enough breathing room that losing one plant doesn’t immediately show up at the tap,” — Rabee Rustum, Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering

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• “Striking desalination plants would be a strategic move, but it would also come very close to, and in some cases cross, a red line,” — Andreas Krieg, Senior Lecturer at King’s College London

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• “Which is precisely why attacks on water systems carry such grave legal and moral weight,” — Andreas Krieg, Senior Lecturer at King’s College London

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The ongoing Iranian drone attacks on Gulf desalination facilities highlight the vulnerabilities and strategic importance of water infrastructure in the region. While the current system has mechanisms to absorb disruptions, the potential for sustained attacks raises concerns about the long-term implications for civilian populations dependent on desalinated water.

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