Welcome to ASDECO

•  ASDECO is a project within the National Program for Environmental Science and Technology. R+D+I National Plan 2004-2007 (BOE n. 41, 16th of February 2007)

•  ASDECO is Funded by “Secretaría de Estado de Medio Rural y Agua, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente”. Spain.

Introduction

Automated System for Desalination Dilution Control – ASDECO

The development of the desalination industry in Mediterranean countries has been growing in recent years to alleviate water shortages. The main purpose of these plants is to provide water for urban and agricultural use in the driest areas of Spain in response to the scarcity of fresh water.

However, desalination of seawater has two major direct impacts on the environment: high energy consumption and discharge of brine waste into the sea that contains high concentrations of salt. This technique has made progress in reducing the energy required to produce a cubic meter of desalinated water (close to 3 kWh/m3); however, further substantial improvements are not expected.

The discharge of brine into the sea requires specific attention and scientific assessment of the possible impacts on the marine environment. The difference in density between brine and seawater causes the formation of a stratified system, with the brine forming a bottom layer that can affect the benthic communities that depend on stable salinity environments. Dilution is the key process: if it is carried out properly, the marine environment will be able to absorb the outfall and the fauna and Posidonia oceanica meadows will not be affected. However there are multiple factors that influence how the brine is diluted in the sea, ranging from the characteristics of the brine itself to the physical, chemical and biological conditions in the area where it is dischargedo.

Consequently, it is necessary to know how to carry out this brine discharges through a proper dilution in order to minimize the potential negative effects on the marine environment.

Currently, the Environmental Impact Assessment requires an environmental monitoring program during the operation stage of the desalination activity. The development of ASDECO provides a useful tool for controlling desalination discharges in the marine environment.

 

ASDECO is a project within the National Program for Environmental Science and Technology.
R+D+i National Plan 2004-2007 funded by “Secretaría de Estado de Medio Rural
y Agua del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino”. Spain.