EA backs desalination

(by Karma Loveday)

The Environment Agency has published a supportive position statement on the use of desalination for public water supply. It said: “We believe that desalination could play an effective and increasing role in securing water supplies, enabling water companies to maximise available resources. We encourage desalination to be considered as part of a diverse range of supply and demand solutions.”

The position statement defined what desalination is, why it is needed and what the Agency’s role is in development, as well as articulating the benefits (including rainfall independence and high security of supply) and the international desalination use context.

It listed concerns about desalination as follows: high energy use, high cost, reliance on fossil fuels, brine and chemical discharge, finding suitable sites, water transport requirements, sourcing additional water for blending, and operational challenges. However, it argued: “Desalination is now a feasible alternative supply option, with appropriate regulations, improved technology and reliable monitoring and control systems, and integration with renewable energy sources.

“Appropriate permitting from relevant regulators must be secured. This will likely involve Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation due to the coastal or estuarine nature of the resource. This is in addition to the Environment Agency, Drinking Water Inspectorate and local authority. Potential concerns can be addressed with appropriate planning, design and mitigation measures.”

The document noted that currently, only Thames Water (the Thames Gateway plant) and the Isles of Scilly have desalination for public water supply – but that several schemes are in companies’ 2024 Water Resource Management Plans.