San Diego California,San Diego California, JanuaryJanuary 28, 2011 28, 2011

Desalinization: Technologies & Market Opportunities.Desalinization: Technologies & Market Opportunities.

The Role of Environmental Baseline Studies The Role of Environmental Baseline Studies and Impact Assessment to Evaluate the and Impact Assessment to Evaluate the

Feasibility of a Desalination Project.Feasibility of a Desalination Project.

Rogelio Vázquez González.Rogelio Vázquez González.Department of Applied Geophysics, CICESE, Department of Applied Geophysics, CICESE, rvazquez@cicese.mx

Panel topic: “Panel topic: “Desalination Technology Advances Desalination Technology Advances WorldwideWorldwide

The southwest of USA and northwest of The southwest of USA and northwest of

Mexico are one of the fastest growing Mexico are one of the fastest growing

regions. We are faced with the challenge regions. We are faced with the challenge

of expanding the basic service of expanding the basic service

infrastructure to fulfill the growing infrastructure to fulfill the growing

demand, particularly fresh water.demand, particularly fresh water.

IntroductionIntroduction

Several binational efforts have been Several binational efforts have been strongly promoted in the last years:strongly promoted in the last years:

• Binational Desalination Meeting Otay Water District July 14, 2010Binational Desalination Meeting Otay Water District July 14, 2010

• Mexico Water and Wastewater Projects: Opportunities for U.S. Mexico Water and Wastewater Projects: Opportunities for U.S. BusinessBusinessSeminar Organized by U.S. Commercial Service at AWWA ACE09Seminar Organized by U.S. Commercial Service at AWWA ACE09San Diego CA. June 15, 2009San Diego CA. June 15, 2009

• ARIZONA-MEXICO COMMISION SUMMER PLENARY 2009 Water ARIZONA-MEXICO COMMISION SUMMER PLENARY 2009 Water CommitteeCommittee

Phoenix Arizona June 5, 2009Phoenix Arizona June 5, 2009

• Binational Cooperative Process, New Water Supplies Work Group Binational Cooperative Process, New Water Supplies Work Group

San Diego California, August 5, 2008San Diego California, August 5, 2008

• ARIZONA-MEXICO COMMISION SUMMER PLENARY 2008 Water ARIZONA-MEXICO COMMISION SUMMER PLENARY 2008 Water CommitteeCommittee

Phoenix Arizona June 20, 2008Phoenix Arizona June 20, 2008

• Seminar on: Doing Business in Mexico Water Industry American Seminar on: Doing Business in Mexico Water Industry American Water Works Association Atlanta Georgia, June 9, 2008 Water Works Association Atlanta Georgia, June 9, 2008

South of the border, the sources for the South of the border, the sources for the

water being supplied to satisfy the water being supplied to satisfy the

current demand, are being operated at current demand, are being operated at

the limit of their capacity and locally the limit of their capacity and locally

there is no other groundwater sources .there is no other groundwater sources .

Given that, Water Authorities have consideredGiven that, Water Authorities have considered desalination sea water to satisfy their desalination sea water to satisfy their

requirements. requirements.

Membrane processesMembrane processes– Reverse OsmosisReverse Osmosis– NanofiltrationNanofiltration– Electro-Dialysis Electro-Dialysis

ReversalReversal– Forward OsmosisForward Osmosis

Thermal processesThermal processes– Flash DistillationFlash Distillation– Multi-Effect DistillationMulti-Effect Distillation– Membrane Distillation Membrane Distillation

Which method of desalinationWhich method of desalination is most appropriate? is most appropriate?

Where ?Where ?

Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most popular desalination process used in the world. Improvements in efficiency have led to reduce energy consumption, cheaper processing costs.

Desalination: a $10 Billion Desalination: a $10 Billion Industry!Industry!

As we have seen in the previous As we have seen in the previous presentations desalination is an industry, $10 presentations desalination is an industry, $10 billion industry.billion industry.

Indeed there is a huge market regarding Indeed there is a huge market regarding desalination projects and new technology desalination projects and new technology development will play a central part in the development will play a central part in the business.business.

Now the question: Now the question: How many of these 10 billion dollars will be How many of these 10 billion dollars will be lost by the lack of well-conducted baseline lost by the lack of well-conducted baseline studies and proper environmental impact studies and proper environmental impact assessment? assessment?

Ensenada Desalination Plant Feasibility Ensenada Desalination Plant Feasibility Project:Project:

In October 2009, the State Water In October 2009, the State Water Commission of Baja California, Commission of Baja California, established a General Agreement for established a General Agreement for Collaboration with the Center for Collaboration with the Center for Scientific Investigation and Higher Scientific Investigation and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE) to Education of Ensenada (CICESE) to characterize the site to place a desalting characterize the site to place a desalting plant and perform the Environmental plant and perform the Environmental Impact Assessment.Impact Assessment.

CICESE is a Public Research institution CICESE is a Public Research institution coordinated by the National Council for coordinated by the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT ).Science and Technology (CONACYT ).

Organization

Earth Sciences

Administrative

GENERAL DIRECTION

Graduates

Applied Physics Oceanography

Innovation and Development

Telematics

http://www.cicese.edu.mx/http://www.cicese.edu.mx/

Experimental and Applied Biology

•Conservation

Biology.

•Marine

Biotechnology.

•Experimental

Microbiology.

•Computer Sciences.

•Optics .

•Electronics and

Telecommunications.

•Aquaculture.

•Marine Ecology.

•Biological

Oceanography.

• Physical

Oceanography.

•Applied

Geophysics.

•Geology.

•Seismology.

Baseline studies for evaluating potential Baseline studies for evaluating potential locations for desalinization plants;locations for desalinization plants;

Relevant aspects:Relevant aspects:

Geology and Geochemistry

Geohydrology and

Geophysics

Inland and marine Ecology

Oceanography

Power supply

Development plans

Population projections Key components of the facility:

•The water intake.

•The disposal of rejected water

Specific studies inland for evaluating and Specific studies inland for evaluating and characterize potential sources and type of water characterize potential sources and type of water intakeintake

Site specific studies for evaluating potential Site specific studies for evaluating potential locationslocations

BATHYMETRYBATHYMETRY

Environmental impact assessment Modeling dispersion of water rejected.

Baseline studies for evaluating the composition Baseline studies for evaluating the composition and abundance of major groups of zooplankton and abundance of major groups of zooplankton and benthos in the area adjacent to the potential and benthos in the area adjacent to the potential location of the intake and discharge facilities.location of the intake and discharge facilities.

Thanks !Thanks !