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From a review of the literature it is clear that there is a widespread belief and recognition that desalination plants pose a potentially serious threat to marine ecosystems. The evidence for salinity, thermal, and contaminant impacts of desalination brines upon receiving water quality is relatively clear. However, when brines are released to well-flushed environments impacts tend to be on a small-scale (10 s of meters).
Recent research stresses that appropriate discharge site selection, modelling of ocean currents, and proper plant maintenance and operation will minimise the spatial extent of the ecological effects of desalination plant discharges. [1]
References
- ↑ Roberts, David A., Emma L. Johnston, and Nathan A. Knott. "Impacts of desalination plant discharges on the marine environment: A critical review of published studies." Water Research 44.18 (2010): 5117-5128.