Social perspectives on the sustainability challenges within the desalination sector: a Q-method study

Abstract

Desalination offers options to augment water supplies for growing urban and industrial demand. Yet these facilities and related infrastructure projects have significant impacts on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. However, few studies examine how key actors in the sector understand or incorporate sustainability ideas and practices into the design, construction, and operation of desalination facilities. This study fills this gap by examining stakeholder perspectives on sustainability in the desalination sector using Q-method. We identified three dominant social perspectives on these topics. Factor 1 views desalination as important for the long-term sustainability of water supply. Factor 2 sees the social and environmental impacts of desalination as too big of a sustainability risk when there are other water resources to consider. Factor 3 indicates that the parties pursuing desalination have the responsibility of addressing sustainability concerns through their proposals and project specifications. These perspectives reveal how desalination stakeholders understand sustainability, key challenges, and responsibility for ensuring sustainable desalination projects. The findings provide insight into how desalination stakeholders can improve sustainability processes and outcomes.