9 Seawater Desalination Plants: Heavy Coastal Industry
101
of the plants only very roughly since the power at one site varies from 50000 (Bandar
Abbas, Iran) to more than 1 000 000 m 3 per day (Jubail, Saudi Arabia). The figure shows
the counterclockwise ring-current. In the following discussion the question of the
number and power of the desalination plants is extended to the combined emissions
into this one and the same ring current.
The combined emissions, applied to the power of 1000000 m 3 freshwater, are compiled in Fig. 9.1. The almost six fold amounts of pollutants are discharged every day
into the Gulf or released every day into the atmosphere. Since marine processes are
slow, including accumulations and need time to show biological effects, loads calculated per year are more appropriate:
• 440 t copper (which is only one of the corrosion products)
• 11 000 t antiscalants
• 4400 t chlorine
Yearly releases into the atmosphere are:
• 176000000 t CO 2
• 2000000tS0 2
• 340000 t NO x
The discharges of additives and corrosion products may accumulate within the
counterclockwise current. Additive effects in the seawater of the current and depositions in the sediments are to be expected downstream of the points of emission. At
present, every desalination project is planned separately from others and without regard for the existing emissions. The author concludes that within a small semi -enclosed
sea, this lack of cooperated development cannot be continued into the future.
9.11
Concluding Remarks
With the increasing development of the Mediterranean countries, the wave of
desalination plants has now reached Europe. According to the EU directive on the effects of projects on the environment, desalination plants need environmental impact
assays. This means that experience in the construction of environmentally more compatible seawater desalination plants is urgently required. Such experience can only be
gained by studying foreign examples.
It is not the task of environmental impact studies to prevent the development. The
task is rather to adapt projects to the existing limitations and sensitivities. The best way
to achieve this is an environmental impact study coinciding with the progress the technical planning and under continuous discussion between project planners and environmentalists.
The number of desalination plants will increase steeply in the near future. Besides
economical growth, change of climate will contribute to this increase. In this study it
was demonstrated that desalination plants are the origin of many adverse effects on the
environment. It is important that planning, construction and operation of desalination
plants are accompanied by serious environmental impact analyses. Moreover, it is im-
101
of the plants only very roughly since the power at one site varies from 50000 (Bandar
Abbas, Iran) to more than 1 000 000 m 3 per day (Jubail, Saudi Arabia). The figure shows
the counterclockwise ring-current. In the following discussion the question of the
number and power of the desalination plants is extended to the combined emissions
into this one and the same ring current.
The combined emissions, applied to the power of 1000000 m 3 freshwater, are compiled in Fig. 9.1. The almost six fold amounts of pollutants are discharged every day
into the Gulf or released every day into the atmosphere. Since marine processes are
slow, including accumulations and need time to show biological effects, loads calculated per year are more appropriate:
• 440 t copper (which is only one of the corrosion products)
• 11 000 t antiscalants
• 4400 t chlorine
Yearly releases into the atmosphere are:
• 176000000 t CO 2
• 2000000tS0 2
• 340000 t NO x
The discharges of additives and corrosion products may accumulate within the
counterclockwise current. Additive effects in the seawater of the current and depositions in the sediments are to be expected downstream of the points of emission. At
present, every desalination project is planned separately from others and without regard for the existing emissions. The author concludes that within a small semi -enclosed
sea, this lack of cooperated development cannot be continued into the future.
9.11
Concluding Remarks
With the increasing development of the Mediterranean countries, the wave of
desalination plants has now reached Europe. According to the EU directive on the effects of projects on the environment, desalination plants need environmental impact
assays. This means that experience in the construction of environmentally more compatible seawater desalination plants is urgently required. Such experience can only be
gained by studying foreign examples.
It is not the task of environmental impact studies to prevent the development. The
task is rather to adapt projects to the existing limitations and sensitivities. The best way
to achieve this is an environmental impact study coinciding with the progress the technical planning and under continuous discussion between project planners and environmentalists.
The number of desalination plants will increase steeply in the near future. Besides
economical growth, change of climate will contribute to this increase. In this study it
was demonstrated that desalination plants are the origin of many adverse effects on the
environment. It is important that planning, construction and operation of desalination
plants are accompanied by serious environmental impact analyses. Moreover, it is im-