Bay vs. Ocean Desalination Concentrate

This paper compares side by side two main classes of water bodies that receive concentrated brine discharge from Reverse Osmosis (RO) Desalination Plants: oceans (or open seas) and estuarine bays (under the influence of fresh water). These two classes of water bodies have inherent properties which drive not only the operation of RO plants, but also the physical and chemical reactions of outfall discharge. Major differences between oceans and estuarine bays are evident when comparing salinity levels, variability of salinity, and variability of the overall water quality. the environmental impacts of desalination to marine life can be mitigated through proper diffusion design and mixing analysis. The environmental impact of energy generation remains a concern for the future of desalination. However, with a coordinated effort to reduce power usage by residential, commercial and industrial buildings and processes, the power required for desalination can be completely offset.