Although commercial grade NaClO and gaseous chlorine have low capital costs and can be utilized in seawater desalination facilities, the usage of electrolytic generation of NaClO has been around for decades. The past few years have seen a rise in awareness of environmental and community safety concerns, making on-site NaClO generation a more alluring disinfection technique. Compared to gaseous chlorine, the required equipment has comparatively significant upfront capital expenditures, but operating expenses are incredibly low. Systems for producing NaClO just need electricity and salt water to function. For a system that uses saltwater, the payback period is usually five years.

Due to the low amount of raw materials needed on-site, hypochlorite generating systems are frequently used by coastal desalination facilities.

A NaClO generator is quite easy to operate. A specially made cell that is powered by DC energy is purged with salt water. The NaClO solution is produced by the electrochemical reaction that breaks apart the salt and water molecules inside the cell. This bleach solution is then injected back into the saltwater source at the intake structure at rates typically about two mg/l. Typically, this bleach solution is created at concentrations of 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams per litre (mg/l). Upon coming into touch with the "bugs," the NaClO loses its oxygen and reverts to sodium chloride, or salt. After going through the procedure, the treated water is discharged into the ocean with a residual chlorine concentration that is frequently as low as 0.1 mg/l.