Water. Desalination + reuse
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18 On Site June 2018 Water.desalination+reuse C O M M E N T R O L F K E I L If every human on our planet consumed the equivalent amount of water as used by residents and industries in the Middle East, we would need the supply capacity of more than ve times that of Earth. Desalination of seawater is the most accessible and sustainable upstream source for potable water production, and it has the potential to feed an integrated total water management system. The Middle East has been spearheading a technology transition, driving potable water producers to apply new and competitive technologies, includ- ing seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO). SWRO is the most widely adopted desalination technology today, averaging a recovery rate of 45 per cent. And in the future, desalina- tion technologies are bound to improve: innovations such as reverse electrodialysis and ceramic membranes are already in the piloting stage. Today, less than 10 per cent of water used is treated to a level for reuse either for industrial, agricultural, or governmental ap- plication. Public-private partnerships (PPP), and build, operate, transfer (BOT) project models have been adopted by Middle East governments to manage the immense capital expenditure and operating skills required to supply reliable water services for a grow- ing population and economy; and as a way to encourage non-carbon-based industrial development. New sources of renewable and nuclear energy have enabled water and power pro- duction to begin decoupling. While certain technologies currently used do not allow for independent gearing of production quanti- ties, decoupling allows such Ž exibility. Flex- ibility is also required for integrated water management. We have the responsibility to take action, and to connect the silos of water production, manage allocation for human and industrial use, as well as collection and advanced treatment for dedicated reuse. Together, based on successful cooperation, public and private sector organisations can establish successful integrated models and embed them to meet local needs. The rst step is to allocate advanced treated sewage e' uent to industrial water consumers, allowing a transition period equivalent to PPP project timelines to de- velop and sustainably establish the required water qualities and quantities for com- petitive and controlled industrial develop- ment. The second step is aquifer storage of seasonal surplus of advanced treated sewage e' uent – during winter when the irrigation requirement is lower – so that SWRO-pro- duced water can be better allocated. These two steps could come in parallel with well-planned, decentralised advanced treatment stations for sewage e' uent, located nearby to sewage production and industrial reuse customers in order to mini- mise non-revenue transmission losses. This call goes to the private sector: par- ticipate pro-actively; implement advanced emerging technologies that contribute to sustainable upstream and downstream ef- ciencies; reduce power consumption; and convert water production process by-prod- ucts into valuable resources such as biogas, and industrial salts. SWRO produces solid and liquid partially toxic waste, which is widely discharged back into the open sea. This same seawater in the Gulf region is becoming increasingly polluted, promoting development of a raw water bio-chemistry, which adversely a• ects membrane performance and leads to in- creases in use of chemicals and replacement membranes. Together, we must develop sustainable services to create value for future genera- tions, whilst incorporating the evolving ex- pectations of end-users, and building strong partnerships with all stakeholders. Rolf Keil is project development manager of Besix Concessions & Assets Desalination and water management in the Middle East "The fi rst step is to al- locate advanced treated wastewa- ter to industrial consumers" R O L F K E I L Desalination and water management in the Middle East