DESALINATION THREAT TO THE GULF

What is desalination and brine? 1.Seawater is pumped into the plant and pre-treated to meet water quality requirements. 2.The pre-treated water enters the Desalination unit and is divided into a highly pure product (drinking water) and waste water, commonly called brine. 3.This by-product of the desalination process is concentrated salt water containing a mixture of chemicals used during plant operation and is pumped back into the sea. Prof. Hersh Chadha OPM (Harvard) ARPS

DESALINATION PLANTS IN THE ARABIAN GULF Prof. Hersh Chadha OPM (Harvard) ARPS

Arabian Gulf countries are the main producers of desalinated seawater worldwide: Saudi Arabia - 25% U.A.E. - 23% Kuwait - 6% Others - 46% Prof. Hersh Chadha OPM (Harvard) ARPS

Some Facts of Desalination in the Arabian Gulf  Seawater desalinated daily from the Arabian Gulf – 12 Million Cubic metres  Seawater desalinated annually from the Arabian Gulf – 4.38 Billion Cubic metres  Seawater desalinated daily from the UAE – 6 Million Cubic metres  Number of Bottles (1.5 litres capacity) of Water desalinated daily in the UAE – 4 Billion  Desalination Plants in the Arabian Gulf Prof. Hersh Chadha OPM (Harvard) ARPS

Anti-scalants tons Copper kgs Chlorine tons Daily discharge loads into the Arabian Gulf from desalination plants in the region: Prof. Hersh Chadha OPM (Harvard) ARPS

Environmental impact of effluents SalinityReduces vitality and biodiversity at higher values TemperatureCan have local impact on biodiversity; minor concern in arid regions. ChlorineVery toxic for many organisms in the mixing zone. Anti-scalantsPoor or moderate degradability + high total loads = accumulation, chronic effects and unknown side-effects CopperLow acute toxicity for most species; high danger of accumulation and long term effects; bio-accumulation. Prof. Hersh Chadha OPM (Harvard) ARPS

Third World Climate Cost Huge “Developing countries will need as much as $100 billion/ year until 2050 to adapt to climate change, an amount that would nearly double current foreign aid flows from developed nations” – World Bank Prof. Hersh Chadha OPM (Harvard) ARPS

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