5.4 Alternative Water Resources: Desalination
The construction and operation of a desalination plant requires feasibility studies and decisions
regarding system components. The following sections provide basic information about existing
desalination technologies, describe the infrastructure and support facilities required to operate a
desalination plant, and identify the most financially and environmentally responsible options for
implementation of a desalination program.
5.4.1 Historical and Current Application
Desalination is the process of removing dissolved solids or salts from water in either a brackish
water or seawater environment. Desalination has been historically used to produce water to
accommodate the need for ultra-pure process water for industrial purposes. Power plants and
manufacturing processes that require steam use desalination technology to address concerns of
scaling, corrosion, and steam efficiency. Desalination of seawater along the shoreline has the
benefit of an unlimited supply of water and an accessible source for cooling.
In the past, desalination for industrial purposes tended to utilize thermal processes, which have
historically been inefficient and energy intensive. With the development and refinement of more
recent desalination technologies, such as Reverse Osmosis (RO), it has become more feasible to
produce a potable, municipal water supply through desalination. The basic technical concepts
surrounding desalination processes are presented below. |
