Chapter 14 Conclusion: A Summary of Challenges still Facing Desalination and Water Reuse

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the challenges facing desalination and water reuse. Membrane fouling is one of the most important factors that limit greater use of desalination membranes. Fouling occurs due to particulate matter, organic matter, microorganisms forming biofilms, and inorganic scaling. Electrodialysis reversal (EDR) is generally most attractive for the desalination of brackish water and in cases where organic matter removal and microbial control are not important. EDR is also of interest in treating brackish waters where silica is an important limitation. The ideal process would recover all the water leaving behind only the salt. All current technologies produce a concentrate stream that requires discharge into the environment, or must undergo additional treatment to reduce the volume and remove the dissolved solids. Although water reclamation and reuse is practiced in many countries around the world, current levels of reuse constitute a small fraction of the total volume of municipal and industrial effluent generated. The number and variety of contaminants found in reuse source waters present challenges not only to the technologists, but also for the water providers. More information must be developed regarding in-line sensors capable of real-time assurance, monitoring, and control.