Water. Desalination + reuse
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Via Maris Operations Ltd m3). Comparing this willingness-to-pay with the unit cost of water production in large Australian desalination plants means that seawater desalination is an unlikely option for traditional agricultural practice in Australia. On the other hand, Australia has large brackish groundwater water resources across the country. Cost-effective desalination for agriculture is likely to be related to circumstances where highly yielding brackish groundwater resources are available close to the ocean and an existing irrigational water demand. Such conditions are likely to minimise the cost of water production and distribution. Low-salinity groundwater is likely to allow higher recovery rates and provide the possibility of mixing feedwater with the highpurity desalinated water. Proximity to the ocean enables disposal of brine to the ocean, reducing disposal costs compared to inland disposal via evaporation ponds or deep-well injection. Australia is sparsely populated and the nearness of agricultural land to main population centres can reduce the cost due to available infrastructure and labour. Establishment of desalination plants in the remote areas is known to at least double the cost. Labour costs are particularly high in the country, and personnel may not be widely available in remote areas. ConClusions The adaptation of desalination to supply agricultural water is not only possible but proven to be cost-effective under specific circumstances. Wider application will depend on further developments in desalination technologies, reduction in costs and advancements in agricultural water-use practices that reduce water losses and increase water-use efficiency, as well as increasing agricultural water productivity. However all the above comes at a cost and requires implementation of advanced technologies both in water production and the agricultural sector. The author acknowledges the financial support of the NCED, which is funded by the Australian Government through the Water for the Future Initiative.l References Park Palmachim, Industrial Zone, Mobile Post Emek Soreq 76890, Israel Tel: 972-3-9631302. www.ges.co.il For Sale 2nd hand membrane pressure vessels • 500 units • Vessel MOC - FRP • For housing 8 standard 8" elements • Pressure rate - 1000 psi • 4 x 2.5" super duplex side-port • End-cups are excluded • Unit cost - 300 US$ Please contact: hillelb@viamaris-desal.com D&WR on the move READ OUR SPECIAL DIGITAL EDITION AT: www.desalination.biz/digitaledition We are trialing a new format for the international desalination industry direct to your laptop, tablet and phone with a special Desalination & Water Reuse digital edition. 1. Proceedings of the FAO Expert Consultation on Water Desalination for Agricultural Applications, 26–27 April 2004, Rome 2. S Lattemann, MD Kennedy, JC Schippers and G Amy. (2010). In: IC Escobar, AI Schäfer, Sustainable Water for the Future: Water Recycling versus Desalination. Sustainability Science and Engineering, Vol 2. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier, 7-39. 3. Desalination yearbook 2012-13. International Desalination Association. Available at: www.idadesal.org (Accessed 8 May 2013) 4. DesalData: www.idadesal.org/publications/desaldata-com/ 5. PJ Gregory. Soils and Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities. In Soils and Food Security Editor(s): RE Hester, RM Harrison, RSC Publishing,DOI:10.1039/9781849735438 6. D Zarzo, E Campos and P Patricia Terrero. Spanish experience in desalination for agriculture, Desalination and Water Treatment, 2012. DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2012.7081555 7. Agricultural water use in Australia, National Water Commission, Australian Government, nww.nwc.gov.au/ availability/use/agricultural www.desalination.biz/digitaledition With this format, you'll have: Immediacy of information — receive the latest issue before your print edition Easy to read on any device — desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone Easy to access Downloadable and printable information · · · · We want to know what you think, tell us at: www.desalination.biz/survey D&WR May-June 2013 | Desalination & Water Reuse | 25 |