Desalination Plants

1. Reverse Osmosis Plant (RO System), Seawater Desalination
Plant Manufacturer
The growth of desalination plants worldwide is on the increase as global warming and local
drought conditions continue. In all 7,500 desalination plants are currently operating worldwide
with 60% of these situated in the Middle East. Unfortunately, many desalination plants are
adversely affecting the environment.
Desalination removes dissolved minerals and salts from sea water, brackish water, or treated
wastewater and has become an everyday accepted part of life in some countries. Without fresh
water for drinking, irrigation and live stock they would simply cease to exist.
The most common processes used today are Reverse Osmosis(RO) and Distillation. Reverse
osmosis removes dissolved salts through a porous membrane under high pressure, while
distillation heats the water which is evaporated to separate out dissolved minerals.
Both reverse osmosis and distillation processes use harmful chemicals, produce waste and
pollute their local environment. Cleaning agents such as chlorine Desalination Plants
Manufacturer, alkaline solutions, chemical disinfectants and crystal growth inhibitors are used to
maintain their systems from cluggy build up.
Exhaust chimneys on many desalination plants belch harmful chemical clouds, and waste brine
containing concentrated salt is produced and pumped back into waterways and coastal water.
Local marine habitats face pressure with micro-organisms dying as salinity and water
temperature increases.
Solutions to the environmental damage caused by harmful desalination plants include siting
plants in areas with high volumes of brackish or salty groundwater which is more cost-effective
than converting seawater. In addition, desalination plants are able to recover pure salt from

2. their waste brine, which is then usable as raw material for chlorine, caustic soda, and
hydrochloric acid.
New plants capable of extracting pure salt are being planned Sea Water Desalination Plants, yet
with an existing 7,500 plants already discharging waste brine, it is imperative that future
research include back porting technology for existing plants. With the growth of plants
increasing worldwide, environmental concerns cannot be overlooked in our quest for more
fresh water.