Our project is funded by the National Science Foundation under the Coastal SEES program. We are investigating impacts of desalination plants from an interdisciplinary perspective. In response to freshwater shortages and ongoing droughts in California, there is an increasing interest to tap into the ocean to supplement fresh water supply via desalination. In recent years, around 15 seawater desalination plants have been proposed along the central and Southern California coastline, which makes California the state with the highest number of proposed seawater desalination plants in the United States. A number of these proposed plants will have capacities of up to 50 million gallons per day (mgd) compared to capacities of 0.02-0.6 million gallons per day (mgd) of most existing plants. Yet, the development of these plants has been slow due to environmental, economic, and social concerns among policy makers and the public. Information is needed to understand the environmental, social, and economic implications of seawater desalination as scientific data about these issues is very limited.
Our research aims to improve the understanding of impacts of desalination plants on coastal ecosystems in California using in situ measurement pre- and post- discharge. In addition, we assess coastal communities literacy and attitudes towards seawater desalination plants. Research outcomes will offer interdisciplinary insights on this new ocean sector, and provide critical information for seawater desalination policy and planning.
Our research aims to improve the understanding of impacts of desalination plants on coastal ecosystems in California using in situ measurement pre- and post- discharge. In addition, we assess coastal communities literacy and attitudes towards seawater desalination plants. Research outcomes will offer interdisciplinary insights on this new ocean sector, and provide critical information for seawater desalination policy and planning.
Conceptual Framework
Broader Impacts
Water availability and water quality are major challenges facing the world’s population in the 21st century. As a result, desalination as a source of potable water is increasing worldwide. While the benefits of desalination are numerous the impacts to natural environments and specifically coastal sustainability are less clear. Specifically, only few in-situ rigorous studies have been conducted to assess the impacts of effluent discharge from desalination plants on coastal ecosystems. This project will fill this data gap and provide Californians with a science based understanding of the potential coastal environmental impacts of effluent discharge from desalination. This information is critical for understanding how these impacts compare to those associated with other water systems and for cost-benefit analyses. We will also determine how this and similar studies impact public perception and decision making. Such information is needed to better communicate the scientific knowledge to the general public. The framework and approach used here could be adopted by others states and countries as a model for designing monitoring and assessment of environmental impacts of brine discharge and best ways to convey such results to all stakeholders such that sound decisions are made to ensure sustainable coastal systems.