The paper discusses the grave situation of drought in Cataluña (Spain) and the need for a more sustainable model of water consumption. One of the proposed solutions, desalinization of water, is highlighted as a significant contributor to high-energy consumption. The process of desalinization requires a substantial amount of energy, with an average consumption of 4 kWh/m3, which can lead to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbate climate change. To put this into perspective, a desalination plant producing 1.5 hm3/day of water would consume as much energy as 639,000 households, equivalent to the energy needs of over 1 million people. Furthermore, the paper notes that while the energy consumption of desalination plants has decreased over the years, it remains a significant concern, with elevated energy costs associated with the process.Another proposed solution, wastewater treatment and reuse, is also presented as a potentially useful short-term solution to address water scarcity. However, the paper highlights that this approach also has significant drawbacks, including the high cost of treatment and the potential environmental impacts of diverting treated wastewater from rivers and ecosystems, which can disrupt the natural water cycle and harm aquatic life. In fact, the paper notes that recycling all wastewater instead of returning it to rivers could reduce river flows and damage ecosystem function. In light of these findings, the paper suggests that desalinization and wastewater treatment should not be relied upon as long-term solutions, and instead proposes reducing water demand and increasing water savings as more effective and sustainable strategies to address water scarcity. Additionally, the paper emphasizes the importance of using renewable energy sources to power desalination plants, in order to minimize their environmental impact. Overall, the key message is that a change in the socio-economic model is necessary to reduce water consumption, prioritize energy efficiency, and protect the environment.
Further information can be found in the original paper: ¿Son realmente sostenibles las desaladoras de agua de mar?
Auhtor: Ramón Díaz