A membrane distillation assembly for providing purified water, the membrane distillation assembly including a membrane distiller that is configured for producing purified water, the membrane distiller having an evaporation chamber and a condensation chamber, wherein the evaporation chamber and the condensation chamber are separated from each other by a membrane, a reservoir connected to the membrane distiller, the reservoir being configured for intermediate storing of purified water, a water supply unit connected to the membrane distiller, and a purified water dispenser tool connected to the reservoir. The membrane distillation assembly wherein the reservoir includes at least two tanks for intermediate storing of purified water, wherein said tanks are connected in parallel with each other between the membrane distiller and the purified water dispenser tool.

A method of desalinating water, including the steps of when electricity costs between a first predetermined price and a second predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a first salinity, when electricity costs less than the first predetermined price, fill water is pumped into a reverse osmosis desalination unit to yield desalinated permeate and saltwater having a second salinity, and when electricity costs greater than the second predetermined price, pure water is flowed into a reverse osmosis unit to yield pressurized saltwater which is run through a turbine to generate electricity. The first salinity is lower than the second salinity.

A ceramic membrane filtration assembly comprising a membrane assembly extending from a first membrane assembly end to a second membrane assembly end, where the membrane assembly is defined by a membrane assembly length, the membrane assembly including at least one membrane. At least one of the membranes have channels therein, and at least one channel has channel ends. The filtration assembly further includes at least one sealing device coupled with the membrane assembly adjacent to at least one of the first and second membrane assembly ends, where the sealing device has an inner and outer perimeter. The sealing device has a sealing feature disposed along the outer perimeter, and the inner perimeter of the sealing device is sealed with a portion of the membrane assembly.