Many people have concerns about Desalination but Australia has had incredible success with their plant in Perth.
The Perth Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant was launched in November 2006. Perth became the first state in the country to use desalination as a major public water source.
The residents of Perth relied on half their water supply, 149.8 billion litres in 2016-17, from two desalination plants built in 2006 and 2012.
The world’s groundwater resources are disappearing at an alarming rate.
According to the International Desalination Association, 75% of the Earth is covered in water, which would make you question why we are worried about not having water? But of that 75%, 97% of it is ocean meaning it is salty undrinkable water. Only 2.5% of the water on Earth is drinkable. From the 2.5% drinkable water, 69% of it is frozen. That means less than 1% of the Earth’s available water, is fresh groundwater.
Myth: Desalination Consumes large amounts of energy.
Technology has improved so many processes over the years which has meant that energy needed for desalination has been reduced by 50%. Newer devices have been created which help capture and reuse over 50% of the energy used within a plant. Most of the plants in Australia are powered by wind energy, meaning there is less need for fossil fuels.
Saudi Arabia is the worlds largest producer of desalinated water and they have a solar power programme to create the energy needed to produce drinking water.
Myth: Desalination costs too much.
Desalination does not cost too much. The costs are virtually free compared to the costs of 50 liters of beer, orange juice or any other liquid people purchase.
After considering other social, economic and environmental factors, it is sometimes more expensive not to desalinate. In addition to the cost of sinking land, a lack of power production and millions being spent on short-term solutions, farming losses have been recorded in the millions.
Myth: All salt must go back into the sea.
Salt does not have to go back into the sea, as it is possible to dilute and break down brine to use in other industrial processes.
According to Saltworks (2014), there are over 14,000 different uses for salt to cook and clean with and to use in beauty products. A portion can be also disposed of via injection wells. Solar ponds can be developed for salt re-use.
In the future, chemical separation advances of brine are likely to be very lucrative and significantly off set construction costs.
Myth: Desalination is harmful to marine life.
It is a myth to believe that desalination cannot be done without massive harm to the environment. Completed in 2012, the Australia desalination plant is perhaps the greenest plant on the planet. It can supply water for one million people. Although it has experienced some problems, it has many positive features:
The protection of marine life is a number one priority during the design process of new plants. Specially designed intake pipes ensure that marine life and fish eggs are not harmed. There are a number of varied intakes which have different benefits for the ocean environment.
Perth monitors the marine life around the plant and has had positive results around their outfall pipes. You can see the video of the sea life around the Perth desalination plant below. You can also hear more about Desalination myths here.
What are your thoughts on this method of providing drinking water?
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