Impacts of desalination plant discharges on the marine environment: A critical review of published studies

Roberts, David A.; Johnston, Emma L.; Knott, Nathan A.

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2010.04.036

Cited by 402 publications

(219 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…This indicates a quick natural mixing of the brine in the study area to the point of showing little to no discernible salinity abnormalities (within short distances). These findings are in line with the literature (Roberts et al, 2010). Light levels were dependent on water clarity and measured light levels were in a similar range to what we measured at the collection site (Fsar reef, 30-50 PAR).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Effects of concentrate discharges depend on exposure intensities, frequencies, the environment the brine is released into, and the brine temperature (Roberts et al, 2010). Accordingly, the effects of discharged brine can range from no significant impacts on microbial abundance or plankton communities, to widespread alterations in community structures of seagrass, invertebrates, soft-sediment infauna, and corals (Roberts et al, 2010 and references therein;van der Merwe et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High salinity tolerance of the Red Sea coral Fungia granulosa under desalination concentrate discharge conditions: an in situ photophysiology experiment

et al. 2014

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Seawater reverse osmosis desalination concentrate may have chronic and/or acute impacts on the marine ecosystems in the near-field area of the discharge. Environmental impact of the desalination plant discharge is supposedly site-and volumetric-specific, and also depends on the salinity tolerance of the organisms inhabiting the water column in and around a discharge environment. Scientific studies that aim to understand possible impacts of elevated salinity levels are important to assess detrimental effects to organisms, especially for species with no mechanism of osmoregulation, e.g., presumably corals. Previous studies on corals indicate sensitivity toward hypo-and hyper-saline environments with small changes in salinity already affecting coral physiology. In order to evaluate sensitivity of Red Sea corals to increased salinity levels, we conducted a long-term (29 days) in situ salinity tolerance transect study at an offshore seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) discharge on the coral Fungia granulosa. While we measured a pronounced increase in salinity and temperature at the direct outlet of the discharge structure, effects were indistinguishable from the surrounding environment at a distance of 5 m. Interestingly, corals were not affected by varying salinity levels as indicated by measurements of the photosynthetic efficiency. Similarly, cultured coral symbionts of the genus Symbiodinium displayed remarkable tolerance levels in regard to hypo-and hypersaline treatments. Our data suggest that increased salinity and temperature levels from discharge outlets wear off quickly in the surrounding environment. Furthermore, F. granulosa seem to tolerate levels of salinity that are distinctively higher than reported for other corals previously. It remains to be determined whether Red Sea corals in general display increased salinity tolerance, and whether this is related to prevailing levels of high(er) salinity in the Red Sea in comparison to other oceans.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High salinity tolerance of the Red Sea coral Fungia granulosa under desalination concentrate discharge conditions: an in situ photophysiology experiment

et al. 2014

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“…A higher recovery ratio allows the following benefits: a reduction in the size of the desalination plant intake; a reduction in the volume of brine produced, which requires disposal to the sea, surface waters or confined aquifers below the aquifer from which water is withdrawn [5]; and a reduction in the rate of aquifer recharge required, which might be done continuously with treated waste water [4] or periodically with water sourced from another location during periods of low demand [6]. Conversely, a higher recovery ratio results in the production of higher salinity brine, which, depending upon the degree of dispersion and/or dilution employed at the point of disposal, can have adverse effects on plant and animal life [7]. We focus on scenarios where the benefits of reduced volumes outweigh those of increased salinity and consider technologies offering high recovery ratios.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The benefits of hybridising electrodialysis with reverse osmosis

McGovern

Zubair

Lienhard

2014

Journal of Membrane Science

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A cost analysis reveals that hybridisation of electrodialysis with reverse osmosis is only justified if the cost of water from the reverse osmosis unit is less than 40% of that from a standalone electrodialysis system. In such cases the additional reverse osmosis costs justify the electrodialysis cost savings brought about by shifting salt removal to higher salinity, where current densities are higher and equipment costs lower. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that a simple hybrid configuration is more cost effective than a recirculated hybrid, a simple hybrid being one where the reverse osmosis concentrate is fed to the electrodialysis stack and the products from both units are blended, and a recirculated being one hybrid involving recirculation of the electrodialysis product back to the reverse osmosis unit. The underlying rationale is that simple hybridisation shifts salt removal away from the lowest salinity zone of operation, where salt removal is most expensive. Further shifts in the salinity at which salt is removed, brought about by recirculation, do not justify the associated increased costs of reverse osmosis.

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“…Although adverse environmental effects of dumped waste brine can occur (Roberts et al 2010), at one plant in Tianjin the brine is being sold as a product (Watts 2011). The costs of desalination currently are checking demand but as water shortages are expected to worsen, increasing interest in desalination can be expected (Zhou and Tol 2004).…”

Section: Desalinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shorebirds along the Yellow Sea coast of China face an uncertain future—a review of threats

Melville

Chen

2016

Emu - Austral Ornithology

108

107

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Abstract. Wetlands along the Yellow Sea coast of China, which are a major staging area for shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, are in a state of crisis that threatens the future of this migration system. Populations of many shorebirds in the Flyway have declined in recent decades at a time when there has been widespread loss of habitat and degradation of coastal wetlands around the Yellow Sea. Here we examine current threats to coastal wetlands along China's Yellow Sea coast based on field surveys in 2013 and 2014 and a review of the literature. Intertidal habitats have been lost to land claim or degraded through aquaculture and harvesting, as well as gross pollution and invasion of exotic Spartina, all of which have negatively affected shorebird foraging, roosting and breeding sites. Planned further development, if unchecked, will result in the loss of most of the remaining intertidal area, which is likely to result in calamitous declines in populations of many shorebirds. There is a need for immediate action to curb future land claim and to develop an integrated coastal management strategy. Further research on applied aspects of shorebird ecology is urgently needed to inform future policy development and decision making.

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Impacts of desalination plant discharges on the marine environment: A critical review of published studies

Cited by 402 publications

References 68 publications

High salinity tolerance of the Red Sea coral Fungia granulosa under desalination concentrate discharge conditions: an in situ photophysiology experiment

High salinity tolerance of the Red Sea coral Fungia granulosa under desalination concentrate discharge conditions: an in situ photophysiology experiment

The benefits of hybridising electrodialysis with reverse osmosis

Shorebirds along the Yellow Sea coast of China face an uncertain future—a review of threats

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