The Connection between the Impacts of Desalination and the Surrounding Environment

Abstract

The background of water desalination is covered in this chapter, along with an analysis of the environmental issues the desalination industry faces and suggestions for how to address them, to close the gap between the growing demand for water for all purposes and the natural water resources’ finite availability since the early 1970s. While a few number plants established in desert locations desalinate brackish and saline groundwater, most plants built in coastal areas desalinate seawater. Desalination of water has detrimental effects on both marine and terrestrial habitats. Desalination plants also deal with issues such as corrosion, sedimentation, membrane fouling, and scale formation, the disposal of rejected brine from coastal or inland desalination facilities and its harmful impacts on the ecosystems of the marine environment and groundwater. Focus should be placed on achieving zero-brine discharge, incorporating solar-pond technology, using renewable energy sources in desalination, and supporting research and development in the field of water desalination in order to reduce the negative effects of the desalination industry on the nation. Desalination still has difficulties in managing its waste products and minimizing its energy requirements in order to avoid negative environmental effects.