DESALINATION THREAT TO THE GULF

DESALINATION THREAT DESALINATION THREAT TO THE GULFTO THE GULF

What is desalination and brine?What is desalination and brine?

1.1. Seawater is pumped into the plant and pre-treated to meet water Seawater is pumped into the plant and pre-treated to meet water quality requirements. quality requirements.

2.2. The pre-treated water enters the Desalination unit and is divided The pre-treated water enters the Desalination unit and is divided into a highly pure product (drinking water) and waste water, into a highly pure product (drinking water) and waste water, commonly called brine. commonly called brine.

3.3. This by-product of the desalination process is concentrated salt This by-product of the desalination process is concentrated salt water containing a mixture of chemicals used during plant water containing a mixture of chemicals used during plant operation and is pumped back into the sea. operation and is pumped back into the sea.

Prof. Hersh ChadhaOPM (Harvard) ARPS


DESALINATION PLANTS IN THE ARABIAN GULF


Arabian Gulf countries are the Arabian Gulf countries are the main producers of desalinated main producers of desalinated

seawater worldwide:seawater worldwide:

Saudi Arabia - 25% Saudi Arabia - 25% U.A.E. U.A.E. - 23% - 23% Kuwait Kuwait - 6% - 6% Others Others - - 46%46%


Some Facts of Desalination in the Arabian GulfSome Facts of Desalination in the Arabian Gulf

Seawater desalinated daily from the Arabian Gulf – 12 Million Cubic Seawater desalinated daily from the Arabian Gulf – 12 Million Cubic metresmetres

Seawater desalinated annually from the Arabian Gulf – 4.38 Billion Seawater desalinated annually from the Arabian Gulf – 4.38 Billion Cubic metresCubic metres

Seawater desalinated daily from the UAE – 6 Million Cubic metresSeawater desalinated daily from the UAE – 6 Million Cubic metres

Number of Bottles (1.5 litres capacity) of Water desalinated daily in Number of Bottles (1.5 litres capacity) of Water desalinated daily in the UAE – 4 Billionthe UAE – 4 Billion

Desalination Plants in the Arabian Gulf - 120Desalination Plants in the Arabian Gulf - 120


Anti-scalants - 64.9 tonsAnti-scalants - 64.9 tons

Copper - 300 kgsCopper - 300 kgs

Chlorine - 23.7 tonsChlorine - 23.7 tons

Daily discharge loads into the Arabian Gulf

from desalination plants in the region:


Environmental impact of effluentsEnvironmental impact of effluentsSalinity Reduces vitality and biodiversity at higher

values

Temperature Can have local impact on biodiversity; minor concern in arid regions.

Chlorine Very toxic for many organisms in the mixing zone.

Anti-scalants Poor or moderate degradability + high total loads = accumulation, chronic effects and unknown side-effects

Copper Low acute toxicity for most species; high danger of accumulation and long term effects; bio-accumulation.


Third World Climate Cost HugeThird World Climate Cost Huge

““Developing countries will need as much Developing countries will need as much as $100 billion/ year until 2050 to as $100 billion/ year until 2050 to adapt to climate change, an amount adapt to climate change, an amount that would nearly double current that would nearly double current foreign aid flows from developed foreign aid flows from developed nations” nations” – World Bank– World Bank



Q & A Session

[email protected]

ww.hershchadha.com

Documents

DESALINATION THREAT TO THE GULF