Marine and Coastal Impacts of Ocean Desalination in California
Like many areas of the world, California is facing an increasing challenge to maintain a water supply that meets the needs of its growing population and addresses the uncertainties of a changing climate (Brozovic et al., 2007; Cayan et al., 2010; Viviroli et al., 2011; CDWR, 2013; Grantham and Viers, 2014; Diffenbaugh et al., 2015). Currently in its fourth year of drought, California is investigating a variety of alternative sources for water—each of which has its own environmental, economic and social considerations. Ocean desalination, currently a small piece of California’s overall water supply, has received rekindled interest as a potential alternative in large part due to a seemingly “drought-proof” supply of seawater on the state’s doorstep. However, many desalination proposals have been controversial, and many community leaders, policymakers and advocates have questioned the relative value of ocean desalination as compared to potentially cheaper and more efficient alternatives, such as water conservation. In addition, as with all developed sources of water, the process of desalination could impact the environment. If poorly sited and designed, ocean desalination can have major undesirable impacts on marine ecosystems, nearshore habitats and coastal communities. Moreover, regardless of how well they are designed, all desalination facilities currently consume a great deal of energy and have the potential to increase greenhouse gas emissions.