AWWA ACE68874

This study identifies a comprehensive set of challenges associated with desalination includingwater quality concerns, environmental impacts, energy use, concentrated management,economics, and social and political considerations. Surveys and case studies with multipledesalination projects were conducted by screening available literatures, and interviewing localwater authorities, environmental groups and regulatory agencies. The information gathered wasused to develop a decision making framework to aid the water industry in conductingdesalination assessments, and help decision makers to overcome barriers during theimplementation of desalination. Because each desalination technology has its unique technical,economic, and environmental characteristics, this study was designed to focus on desalination ofseawater using membrane technologies.Research objectives were achieved by means of three phases: data collection; case studyanalysis; and, critical assessment of implementing desalination technologies. Data collection wasachieved through literature review, expert workshop, and utility survey. A comprehensivereview of over three hundred twenty grey and peer-reviewed literature, technical reports,government documents were examined. An expert workshop was conducted which includedutilities representatives, specialty consultants, and regulatory agencies to further identify growingconcerns associated with desalination planning and operations. In addition, surveys wereconducted with utilities, both nationally and internationally, of varying capacity, geographic,planning stages of desalination, treating different types of impaired water.Four case studies were selected, representing coastal desalination and including SouthernCalifornia, Florida, Australia, and Israel. The case studies allowed the comparison of the valuesof desalination in different social and geographic areas and highlighted the differences incommunity needs and conditions. Finally, a structural framework was then developed for amulti-criteria assessment of implementing desalination. The framework incorporated options foraugmenting water supplies, environmental impacts of desalination, economics of desalination,technology and water quality, energy, public perception and politics, and permitting, as well asrisk mitigating strategies. Includes 15 references, table.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

11/01/2008

Number of Pages:

10

File Size:

1 file , 630 KB