Patent ID: 7520981

Claim:
An in situ desalination apparatus adapted for use located in a borehole containing groundwater from a subterranean aquifer and provided with a casing for the borehole, the casing comprising a wall at least a portion of which is screened allowing water to flow therethrough, the desalination apparatus comprising: a sealing means for sealing against the borehole casing to separate the borehole into upper and lower portions the casing allowing flow of ground water through the screen into at least the upper portion; a reverse osmosis unit comprising a reverse osmosis medium; an inlet for the reverse osmosis unit located on one side of the reverse osmosis medium, in use the inlet to be located below the upper surface of the groundwater and in the upper portion of the borehole with respect to the sealing means; a concentrate outlet for the reverse osmosis unit opening to the one side of said reverse osmosis medium as the inlet, for delivering concentrate to the lower portion of the borehole with respect to the sealing means; a permeate outlet on the other side of the reverse osmosis medium from said inlet; a delivery line in fluid communication with the permeate outlet in use extending from the body of water; and a pump for delivering groundwater to the inlet; and wherein the sealing means is adapted to allow the apparatus including the sealing means to be removably inserted into the borehole casing, wherein the sealing means is a packer adapted to allow the apparatus to be removably inserted into the borehole casing.