Fortaleza, in the northeastern state of Ceará, is set to gain a new source of water supply. A major desalination project will be built at Praia do Futuro, transforming seawater into drinking water.
The Dessal Ceará project received authorization to enter the execution phase in July 2026 and is scheduled to begin operations in late 2028.
The initiative involves an investment of more than R$3 billion (US$600 million) and is designed to desalinate 1,000 liters of water per second. This would correspond to approximately 12% of Fortaleza’s water demand, providing drinking water to around 720,000 people.
The project is led by Cagece (Ceará Water and Sewage Company) and will be implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) by the Águas de Fortaleza consortium, comprising Marquise S/A, PB Construções Ltda. and Abengoa Água S/A.
Desalination Plants in Brazil
Desalination is not a new investment in Brazil. However, the scale and location of the new project in Fortaleza set it apart from existing initiatives.
The country already has significant desalination projects, particularly in locations with limited access to conventional water supplies, including islands such as Ilhabela, in São Paulo state, and Fernando de Noronha, in Pernambuco. Another project of comparable scale is ArcelorMittal’s internationally recognized desalination plant in Tubarão, Espírito Santo.
ArcelorMittal’s facility is the largest desalination plant in Brazil and is dedicated entirely to supporting the company’s steel production, with the aim of reducing its consumption of water from local rivers. The new project in Ceará is expected to produce seven times as much water.
Producing Drinking Water from Seawater
The project includes a 2.6-kilometer water intake system, with the intake structure located approximately 1.1 kilometers offshore.
The system is designed to collect more than 200 million liters of seawater, which will then be processed by the plant. Using reverse osmosis, the facility is expected to produce 86 million liters of drinking water.
Where Does the Salt Go?
Desalination does not eliminate salt. Instead, the process generates a concentrated stream known as brine.
The project includes a dedicated system to return this material to the ocean. For this purpose, an underwater outfall pipeline approximately 2.06 kilometers long will be installed.
Cagece is also participating in studies exploring potential future uses for the brine. Possibilities include mineral recovery, chemical production and energy recovery.
