Water Desalination Report
- Mubadala ACCESS
- Dec 5, 2022
- 2 min read
The international weekly for desalination and advanced water treatment since 1965
In the latest issue of the Water Desalination Report, researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi present a groundbreaking study titled "Long‐term, basin‐scale salinity impacts from desalination in the Arabian/Persian Gulf." This peer-reviewed paper, published in Nature's Scientific Reports, delves into the effects of desalination on the Arabian Gulf, the world's largest hub of seawater desalination plants. The study reveals that while desalinated freshwater production currently constitutes about 2% of the Gulf's net yearly evaporation, projections indicate this could rise to 8% by 2050 and even exceed 10% later in the century. The research focuses on long-term, basin-wide effects, highlighting the crucial link between desalination and the Gulf's salinity, especially in the context of the deep overflow through the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, the report explores Spain's agricultural shift following the implementation of seawater desalination plants in the Mediterranean Coast. A paper titled "Multidisciplinary assessment of the agricultural supply of desalinated seawater in south-eastern Spain" evaluates the agronomic and environmental impacts of desalinated seawater usage in agriculture. While desalinated seawater reduces overall agricultural water consumption and boosts crop production, it poses economic challenges to farmers due to higher costs and increased environmental impacts linked to energy consumption.
Furthermore, the report highlights key developments in the desalination field, including the US Department of Energy's selection of seven projects focusing on early-stage applied research for desalination and treatment of non-traditional water sources. These projects aim to address priority research needs and technical gaps outlined in the National Alliance for Water Innovation's 2021 Roadmap.
To read the full Water Desalination Report and delve into these critical studies and industry updates, please download the following file:
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