Consultative Workshop on Desalination and Renewable Energy Environmental Implications of Desalination: Concentrate Management

Dr. Fulya Verdier, Dr. Rudolf Baten Fichtner GmbH & Co.KG

Muscat, Oman 22-23 February 2011 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1

Table of Contents

 Need for Concentrate Management  Characteristics of Concentrate  Potential Environmental Impacts  Impact Mitigation Measures  Concentrate Management Options  Conclusions 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 2

Concentrate Management

There is increasing need, because of:  Increasing number and size of desalination plants  Increasing accumulation of desalination plants in certain regions  Increasing concentrate volumes  Limited available disposal options  More strict environmental regulations (e.g. groundwater protection)  Increasing public awareness and environmental concerns 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 3

Characteristics of Concentrate

Typically there are three types of desalination plant discharges:  Brackish water concentrate  Seawater concentrate  Process effluents  Salinity level of concentrate highly depends on feed water salinity and recovery  Volume of concentrate is much greater than volume of process effluents 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 4

Characteristics of Concentrate

Overview on the relevant discharge flows

Desalination Technology Relevant Discharge Flow

RO / MED / MSF RO MED / MSF Seawater concentrate Biocide (Chlorine) Anti-scalants Filter backwash waste water Sodium bisulfite (SBS) Coagulants Flocculants Corrosion inhibitors Anti-foam agents 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1

Content

Salt Content & Heat Chemical Chemical Suspended Solids Chemical Chemical Chemical Chemical Chemical 5

Potential Impacts of Concentrate

Physio-chemical Impacts  Increased salinity, temperature and density of concentrate relative to receiving environment Contaminants  Biocides (e.g.

NaOCl

or

Cl 2

)  Dechlorination using SBS (

sodium bisulfite

)  Antiscalants (polymeric substances)  Cleaning chemicals (acid, base, detergents)  Coagulants from RO plants (e.g.

FeCl 3

) causing reddish color  Antifoaming agents from thermal plants (

polyethylene, polypropylene

)  Traces of heavy metals if there is corrosion of plant equipment 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1

Cause - Impact Assessment

“Cause Impact Assessment” is difficult to determine since  there is no direct link  the receiving eco-system is complex  thorough investigations and analysis with adeaquate replication on annual basis are required to establish  statistical analysis of results  comparative analysis of trends  Even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically, “precautionary measures” should be considered 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 7

Impact Mitigation

The approaches are two-fold:

Environmental Impact Mitigation of Concentrate Process Effluent Treatment Concentrate Management Options: Concentrate Disposal & Volume Reduction

6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 8

Impact Mitigation Measures

Waste water treatment plant (WWTP) including sludge treatment 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 9

Impact Mitigation Measures

Surface Water Discharge  Measures to reduce the extent of impacts i.e. diffusers for enhanced mixing and dispersion of concentrate 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 Source: Wilf (2007) Source: Bleninger (2007) 10

Impact Mitigation Measures

 “Best practice” desalination plant  Minimization of plant wastes (liquid, solid)  Process optimization in order to minimize the discharge flow quantity and contamination  Involvement of waste water treatment plants (WWTP) including sludge treatment  Neutralization of chemicals prior to discharge (~ pH=7) 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 11

Further Measures

Relevant Legislations and Guidelines  Generally subject to national water framework  MENA countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Israel and Egypt have introduced discharge limits for selected effluent pollutants and mixing zone regulations  e.g. Omani discharge requirements limit parameters in the concentrate  Temperature, Suspended solids, Total chlorine, Copper, Nickel, Molybdenum, Iron  Besides the discharge limits, a mixing zone of 300 m in diameter around the outfall is specified. Within the mixing zone, no marine life at the seabed may be destroyed.  Beyond the mixing zone • the ambient water temperature must not be increased by more than 1 °C (weekly average) • the average ambient salinity must not be changed by more than 2 g/l • the average dissolved oxygen level should not be reduced by more than 10% 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 12

Further Measures

Appropriate Site Selection  Data collection and evaluation including installed desalination plants in the vicinity of plant  Semi-closed areas such as Red Sea and Arabian Gulf can be more susceptiple to cumulative impacts due to limited flushing  Impact modeling and assessment (EIA) prior to environmental permit Measures for Permit Granting  Evaluation on case-by-case basis  Establishment of discharge quality standards  Definition of minimum requirements for outfall structure  Prohibition of discharge at coast Appropriate Monitoring  Before-After/ Control-Impact Monitoring 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 13

Further Measures

Additional (international) environmental requirements  Equator Principles  World Bank Standards Measures for Institutional Water Authorities  Preparation of master plans for water bodies  Integrated, multi-scale water resources planning  Development of local, regional, national water regulations  Conducting studies to promote national water program  Assessment of desalination guidelines  Establishment of incentives, task forces 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 14

Concentrate Management Options

There is no universal concentrate disposal solution for all plants and sites  Surface water discharge (oceans, seas, rivers) is the most economic and common option for large concentrate volumes  Sewer disposal may require fees and permit by local sewage agency  Deep well injection requires highly permeable, unusable saline aquifer nearby. Its feasibility depends on hydro-geological conditions  Evaporation pond is land intensive and thus rather applicable for smaller volumes  Zero liquid discharge means no liquid discharge across plant boundary. It is more applied by industry by using thermal evaporators and processing to solids  Selective salt recovery needs market development in the long term 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 15

Concentrate Management Options & Costs

Options & Benchmark Indicative Costs (1) [US$/m³] Critical factors Concentrate disposal options

Surface Water Sewer 0.03 - 0.30

0.30 - 0.66

Piping, pumping and outfall construction Disposal rate, salinity, sewer capacities, fees Deep Well Injection Evaporation Pond 0.33 - 2.64

1.18 - 10.04

Tubing diameter and depth, injection rate, chemical costs Pond size and depth, salt concentration, evaporation rate, disposal rate, pond liner cost Disposal rate, energy costs, salinity Zero Liquid Discharge

Benchmark

0.66 - 26.41

Membrane replacement Chemicals 0.008 - 0.05

0.008 - 0.05

(1)

Costs include CAPEX and OPEX costs after Greenlee et al., 2009 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 16

Conclusions

 Pioneer installations are operated for backwash water treatment (e.g. Perth SWRO, Sydney SWRO, planned for Raz Azzour hybrid plant), the related costs are not significant  Eco-toxicity and chemical dosing rates has been reduced  Measures to mitigate concentrate impacts are state-of-the-art  Concentrate minimization is not yet established. Currently limiting factors are related to economics rather than technical feasibility  Today’s best practice is expected to become minimum requirement for future desalination plants  MENA countries can provide a suitable platform to establish a common consensus 6543P07/FICHT-6989854-v1 17

Concentrate Management

Thank you!

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