Impact of brine and antiscalants on reef-building corals in the Gulf of Aqaba – Potential effects from desalination plants

Petersen, Karen Lykkebo; Paytan, Adina; Rahav, Eyal; Levy, Oren; Silverman, Jacob; Barzel, Oriya; Potts, D. C.; Bar‐Zeev, Edo

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2018.07.009

Cited by 96 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Past research on pelagic phytoplankton and benthic microbes, seagrasses, polychaetes and corals demonstrate that salinity tolerances are highly variable among species and also dependent on the magnitude of the salinity increase and exposure time [14,[16][17][18][19][20][21]. For instance, seagrasses have low thresholds with a detectable mortality at salinity of 5% above ambient levels, whereas coral growth is not impacted at salinity as high as 10% above ambient [22][23][24]. Relative abundances and growth rates of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthic bacteria also do not seem to be significantly impacted at salinities of 10% above ambient, but community structure often changes [16,17,25,26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological and Physical Effects of Brine Discharge from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and Implications for Future Desalination Plant Constructions

Petersen

Heck

Reguero

et al. 2019

Water

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Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination is increasingly used as a technology for addressing shortages of freshwater supply and desalination plants are in operation or being planned world-wide and specifically in California, USA. However, the effects of continuous discharge of high-salinity brine into coastal environments are ill-constrained and in California are an issue of public debate. We collected in situ measurements of water chemistry and biological indicators in coastal waters (up to ~2 km from shore) before and after the newly constructed Carlsbad Desalination Plant (Carlsbad, CA, USA) began operations. A bottom water salinity anomaly indicates that the spatial footprint of the brine discharge plume extended about 600 m offshore with salinity up to 2.7 units above ambient (33.2). This exceeds the maximum salinity permitted for this location based on the California Ocean Plan (2015 Amendment to Water Quality Control Plan). However, no significant changes in the assessed biological indicators (benthic macrofauna, BOPA-index, brittle-star survival and growth) were observed at the discharge site. A model of mean ocean wave potential was used as an indicator of coastal mixing at Carlsbad Beach and at other locations in southern and central CA where desalination facilities are proposed. Our results indicated that to minimize environmental impacts discharge should target waters where a long history of anthropogenic activity has already compromised the natural setting. To ensure adequate mixing of the discharge brine desalination plants should be constructed at high-energy sites with sandy substrates, and discharge through diffusor systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological and Physical Effects of Brine Discharge from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and Implications for Future Desalination Plant Constructions

Petersen

Heck

Reguero

et al. 2019

Water

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“…[13] reported coral bleaching in the Gulf as a result of ocean acidification. The desalination of seawater has a profound impact on coral environment, where brine effluents could directly impair the symbiotic algae of the corals [48]. The dumping practices and reclamation of the sea could promote deterioration of the water quality of the reef environment [20].…”

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confidence: 99%

Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Sea Surface Temperatures and Sea Level Rise—The Arabian Gulf

Hereher

2020

Climate

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The Arabian Gulf is one of the regions in the world experiencing major changes due to increased economic growth rates and development practices. As a shallow water body within a hot desert, the Gulf is exposed to obvious warming in the sea surface temperatures (SST). Remotely sensed SST data were utilized to estimate decadal change in SST with a focus on coral reef locations. There is a positive trend in monthly time series SSTs, with a maximum value of about 0.7 °C/decade for the western side of the Gulf. This high trend of SST is associated with significant coral reef bleaching and it coincides with major climate/ocean interactions. Most of the Arabian countries along the Gulf have coastal developments at low-land areas of high vulnerability to sea level rise. Digital elevation models showed that there are more than 3100 km2 of coastal areas that occur at 1 m level along the Arabian countries of the Gulf. Coastal protection and conservation measures are crucial to protect low-lying coasts of urban use.

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“…This proportion is much larger than the share of desalinated water produced, indicating that desalination plants in the region operate at very low recovery ratios (ratio of the desalinated water volume to the seawater volume). Brine production negatively affects marine ecosystems in the Arabian/Persian Gulf (Al‐Sharrah et al, 2017) and in the Red Sea (Petersen et al, 2018). Brine discharge can also increase the overall costs of desalination, because of the increased salinity at plant intakes and lower recovery ratios, challenging its cost‐effectiveness (Bashitialshaaer et al, 2011).…”

Section: Water Issues Facing the Arab Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling the Trickle: Ensuring Sustainable Water Management in the Arab Region

et al. 2020

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Water scarcity in the Arab region is intensifying due to population growth, economic development, and the impacts of climate change. It is manifested in groundwater depletion, freshwater ecosystem degradation, deteriorating water quality, low levels of water storage per capita, and added pressures on transboundary water resources. High-income Arab countries have sought to circumvent the ever-present challenges of water scarcity through agricultural imports (virtual water trade), desalination, and, increasingly, wastewater reuse. In this review article, we argue that the narrative of water scarcity and supply-side technological fixes masks more systemic issues that threaten sustainable water management, including underperforming water utilities, protracted armed conflict and displacement, agricultural policies aimed at self-sufficiency, evolving food consumption behaviors, the future of energy markets, and educational policy. Water management challenges, particularly on the demand side, and responses in the Arab region cannot be understood in isolation from these broader regional and international political and socioeconomic trends. Recognizing the complex and interdependent challenges of water management is the first step in reforming approaches and shifting to more sustainable development outcomes and stability in the Arab region and beyond.

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Impact of brine and antiscalants on reef-building corals in the Gulf of Aqaba – Potential effects from desalination plants

Cited by 96 publications

References 59 publications

Biological and Physical Effects of Brine Discharge from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and Implications for Future Desalination Plant Constructions

Biological and Physical Effects of Brine Discharge from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant and Implications for Future Desalination Plant Constructions

Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Sea Surface Temperatures and Sea Level Rise—The Arabian Gulf

Tackling the Trickle: Ensuring Sustainable Water Management in the Arab Region

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