If desalinated water is stored in reservoirs, power outages generally have less immediate impact on water availability. The reservoir acts as a buffer, allowing water to continue flowing into the distribution system even if the desalination plant stops operating temporarily. This ensures that households, businesses, and essential services can still receive water without interruption.
However, extended outages can affect the system in other ways. Pumps, valves, and treatment equipment may not operate, so water levels in the reservoir could eventually drop if consumption exceeds the stored supply. In addition, disinfection and circulation systems may be impacted, potentially requiring monitoring or re-chlorination once power is restored to maintain water quality.
