DESALINATION: IS IT WORTH ITS SALT? A Primer on Brackish and Seawater Desalination Photo by Cynthia L. Douglas LONE STAR CHAPTER DESALINATION: IS IT WORTH ITS SALT? A Primer on Brackish and Seawater Desalination by Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club December 2008 LONE STAR CHAPTER P.O. Box 193l Austin, TX 78767-1931 (512) 477-1729
[email protected] http://texas.sierraclub.org Table of Contents: Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................................v Context...............................................................................................................................................................vi THE DESALINATION PROCESS .........................................................................................................1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ........................................................................................................5 BRINE DISPOSAL......................................................................................................................................5 IMPINGEMENT AND ENTRAINMENT ...........................................................................................8 HEALTH CONCERNS..............................................................................................................................9 INCREASED ENERGY USE...................................................................................................................9 OTHER IMPACTS....................................................................................................................................10