Desalination Plans to Solve Water Scarcity Thomas Manaugh, PhD Integral Scientific Institute
"A new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move toward higher levels. -- Albert Einstein
Integral Thinking Solving big, knotty problems in ways that are environmentally responsible Making systems work together for greater efficiencies Putting underutilized resources to work Thinking outside the box
Stopping Unstoppable Sea Level Rise
Water on Earth 2.5% 0.5% 97% Seawater (Not Drinkable) Freshwater (Frozen) Freshwater (Available)
The Proposed Groundwater Plan Proposal and Expressed Concerns
The Groundwater Plan Build the biggest groundwater pumping project in the history of the U.S. Pump up to 176,655 acre-feet / year of groundwater from five valleys in Eastern Nevada Require the construction of a 263-mile long pipeline between Eastern and Southern Nevada Require the construction of more than 4,000 acres of power lines, well pads and access roads At a cost of $15.46 billion
The Groundwater Plan - Expressed Concerns Very high cost to rate-payers and taxpayers Violation of the National Environmental Policy Act Devastating hydrological, biological, agricultural and socioeconomic impacts Indirect harm to 130,000 acres of wildlife habitat Severe long-term impact on water resources Subsidence caused by heavy pumping of groundwater Eventual exhaustion of groundwater resources Large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions from pumping and transporting groundwater
The Desalination Plan Proposal and Recommendations
Current Regional Water Distribution to Selected Cities Colorado River Lake Mead Hoover Dam Las Vegas Los Angeles Phoenix Tucson
Regional Water Distribution under the Proposed Desalination Plan Colorado River Lake Mead Hoover Dam Las Vegas Los Angeles Phoenix Ocean Water Desalination Plant Solar Power Plant Tucson
Desalination Plan Key Actions For building the plants Siting Seawater intake Energy usage Brine disposal For interstate agreements Continued cooperation between agencies
Desalination Plan Siting Main Site Selection Criteria Desalination Plant Solar Power Plant 1 Land size appropriate for required production capacity 2 Topography 3 Outside built and inhabited areas 4 Outside environmentally sensitive areas 5 Close to a consistently good quality seawater source 6 Close to an appropriate brine discharge area 7 Direct sunlight 8 Solar irradiation above a minimum level 9 Close to an electric power interconnection 10 Close to a water supply system 11 Close to a proper roadway network 12 Meets local and environmental laws and restrictions
Desalination Plan Seawater Intake Select the best technological solution(s) to reduce impact on the marine ecosystem Minimize Impingement Entrainment Consider remediation
Desalination Plan Energy Usage 9 8 Energy Needed (kwh) to Produce 1 M 3 of Clean Water 8.5 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0.37 0.48 0.87 Surface Water Groundwater Wastewater Treatment 2.5 Wastewater Reuse Desalination Use renewable energy resources such as solar power plant to reduce environmental impact
Desalination Plan Brine Disposal Brine is seawater with about half the water removed A byproduct of the reverse osmosis process Brine can be discharged back in the ocean without harming marine life Brine can be added to wastewater before discharge to reduce its salinity Salinity at the brine outflow can be monitored to keep it from reaching toxic levels
Desalination Plan Interstate Agreements Develop a better public understanding of water issues Think globally, or at least regionally, and act locally Extend existing water agreements between Nevada and California
Desalination Plan Stages Stage 1 Develop detailed proposal Form a Special Advisory Committee Develop siting plan Request USDOI-BR to conduct pilot project (proof of concept) Stage 2 Conduct campaign to inform public officials and the public about the Desalination Plan Stage 3 Actual building of the desalination and solar power plants
Desalination Plan Costs Item Desalination Plant (200 MGD) Solar Power Plant (3 Million kwh per day) Miscellaneous Cost $4.0 Billion $2.4 Billion $1.0 Billion Total $7.4 Billion
Multi-Criteria Decision Making Criteria Option A Option B Option C BAU Groundwater Desalination Title Plan Plan Plan 100 Score -20% -24% 64% 80 Ranking neutral rather negative positive 60 1. Adaptation to CC Rating -5 of ±5 Rating +3 of ±5 Rating +5 of ±5 40 Importance 5 of 5 20 2. Environmental Impact Rating -4 of ±5 Rating -5 of ±5 Rating +4 of ±5 Importance 5 of 5 0 3. Cost -20 Rating +5 of ±5 Rating -5 of ±5 Rating 0 of ±5 Importance 3 of 5-40 4. Feasibility Rating +5 of ±5 Rating +3 of ±5 Rating +5 of ±5-60 Importance 4 of 5 5. Public Acceptance -80 Rating -4 of ±5 Rating -5 of ±5 Rating +4 of ±5 Importance 4 of 5-100 Best Option: Option C - Desalination Plan High Score: +64% Decision: Positive, Option C - Desalination Plan Option A Option B Option C
New Report Shows That Vista Ridge Project Would Harm Aquifer Levels
Hopscotch Pipeline
In Conclusion We propose a solution to a particular problem Water scarcity in Las Vegas, Nevada It requires an exchange between Nevada and California Nevada pays California for building a desalination plant and a solar power plant California allows some of its Colorado River water allotment to go to Las Vegas It gives Las Vegas the water it needs It gives California a more reliable source of water closer to where it is needed It eliminates waste that results from transporting water over long distances It creates a model for solving similar water scarcity problems in other regions Winners: Nevada California Environment
Thank You Contact Us Thomas Manaugh, PhD thomas.manaugh@integralscientific.org +1 (972) 690-0354
The Water Scarcity Problem Water Scarcity Higher Demand Lower Supply (*) Population Growth Inefficient Use Lower Precipitation Higher Temperature (*) : In the current paradigm.