Environmental Impacts of Seawater Desalination: Arabian Gulf Case Study

摘要: Desalination of seawater accounts for a worldwide water production 5000 million m 3 /year. A “hot spot” intense desalination activity has always been the Arabian Gulf, but other regional centers emerge and become more prominent, such as Mediterranean Sea Red Sea, or coastal waters California, China Australia. The growth gap between supply demand in GCC countries can be attributed to limited available surface water, high population urbanization development, deficient institutional arrangements, poor management practices, depletion deterioration quality, especially shallow groundwater aquifers. Increasing domestic sector shifted attention role alleviating shortages. Experience Gulf States demonstrates that technology developed level where it serve reliable source at price comparable from conventional sources. remains most feasible alternative augment meet future requirements. It is considered strategic option satisfying current requirements, comparison development resources. Despite many benefits offer, concerns rise over potential negative impacts on environment. Key issues are concentrate chemical discharges marine environment, emissions air pollutants energy processes. To safeguard sustainable use desali nation technology, each major project should investigated mitigated by means project- location-specific environmental impact assessment (EIA) study, while different options balanced scale plans. In this context, our paper intends present an overview capacities region, synopsis key desalination, including ways mitigating avoiding some dangers environment desalination.