Innovations in Clean Water and Desalination Technologies: A Bibliometric Analysis of their Impact on Public Health

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to explore the development and impact of clean water and desalination technologies, with a particular focus on their intersections with public health. As access to safe water becomes a global priority, understanding the intellectual structure and collaborative patterns in this research domain is essential for informed policy and innovation. Using the Scopus database and VOSviewer software, a dataset of publications from 2000 to 2024 was analyzed. Co-occurrence networks, temporal trends, density visualizations, and co-authorship mappings were generated to uncover thematic clusters, research evolution, and collaboration dynamics. The results show that desalination, solar energy integration, and membrane-based filtration are dominant themes, with a recent surge in renewable and low-energy technologies. The United States and China emerged as central contributors, with strong regional and international collaboration networks. However, explicit connections between water technologies and public health outcomes remain limited, signaling a need for greater interdisciplinary integration. The study underscores the importance of bridging engineering advancements with public health evaluation to ensure clean water technologies achieve their intended social and health impacts. It also provides a strategic roadmap for future research and policy-making aimed at enhancing sustainability and equity in water access.