Impacts of Seawater Desalination on Marine Ecosystems

Abstract

With the global freshwater scarcity, Seawater desalination particularly through reverse osmosis (RO), is a solution to address the problem. Nowadays, seawater desalination is used in various countries, like The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Africa and China, etc. However, despite its huge benefits, the technology is also accompanied by adverse environmental effects, like brine discharge which can lead to localized changes in salinity and subsequently affect the water quality and biodiversity of the area. Huge energy consumption is another issue, as most seawater desalination plants need the electrical energy to control the high-pressure pump which means the enormous energy requirement. Noise pollution, CO₂ emissions, biofouling and invasive species also impact on marine ecosystems. These effects can be minimized by innovative solution, such as improving RO membrane,  zero liquid discharge technology, renewable energy technologies, energy recovery devices and continuous environmental monitoring and regulation. This paper investigates ecological consequences in seawater desalination processes, highlights the potential adverse effects, and discusses the mitigation measures.