DESALINATiON zy ELSEVIER Desalination 152 (2002) 141-154 www.elsevier.com/locate/desal The footprint of the desalination processes on the environment Rachel Einav”*, Kobi Hamssib, Dan Periyb “Blue Ecosystems, Nature Conservation, Environmental Consulting, EIA, Hagat 177, Zichron Yaakov 30900, Israel Tel. + 972 (4) 6390448; Fax + 972 (4) 6392221; email: einavr@blue-ecosystems.com “Adan Technical and Economic Services Ltd., POB 18294, Tel-Aviv 61181, Israel Tel. +972 (3) 5612791; Fax i-972 (3) 5612792; e-mail: adantec@netvision.net.il Received 10 April 2002; accepted 25 April 2002 Abstract Processes of desalination of seawater are intended to reduce the deficits in potable water both at present and in the future. Water desalination processes offer various environmental benefits (related to sanitation, water softening, quality of sewage effluents), but the process is also accompanied by adverse environmental effects. These effects can be minimized by the appropriate planning. Most of the effects anticipated would then affect the local environment in the vicinity of the desalination plants. Desalination may have an impact on five domains: the use of the land, the groundwater, the marine environment, noise pollution, and finally the intensified use of energy. The impact on land use is caused by the use of the coastal land for the purpose of building factories, thus converting the coastal area into an industrial zone instead of an area of tourism and recreation. The impact on groundwater mainly occurs ifpipelines carrying seawater or brine are laid above an aquifer. It also occurs in the case of feed drilling. In such cases the aquifer may be damaged either by infiltration of saline water or by disturbances of the water table. The impact on the marine environment takes place mainly in the vicinity of the concentrated brine discharge pipe. Even though the concentrated brine contains natural marine ingredients, its high specific weight causes it to sink to the sea floor without prior mixing. In addition, chemicals, which are administered to the water in the pre-treatment stages of the desalination process, may harm the marine life in the vicinity of the pipe’s outlet. The actual placement of the discharge pipe may also damage sensitive marine communities. Noise pollution: A desalination plant, which is based on reverse osmosis technology, requires high-pressure pumps, which generate noise. Therefore the plant must be located at a suitable distance from population centers. Technological means may be employed in order to minimize noise intensities. A desalination plant may also affect the environment indirectly, such as via the intensified use of energy by the plant. This increased use of energy results in an increased production of electricity by the respective *Corresponding author. Submitted to the EuroMed 2002 conference on Desalination Strategies in South Mediterranean Countries: Cooperation between Mediterranean Countries of Europe and the Southern Rim of the Mediterranean. Sponsored by the European Desalination Society and Alexandria University Desalination Studies and Technology Center, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, May 4-6, 2002. 001 l-91 64/02/$- See front matter 0 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved PII: SOOll-9164(02)01057-3