Environmental aspects of a desalination plant in Ashkelon

Abstract The desalination plant was set up as a solution to Israel's growing demand for fresh water. This is the first of a series of designated desalination plants of the same approximate size, which are at present in various stages of planning and licensing. The desalination plant in Ashkelon is one of the largest in the world, and the largest in the Levant Basin. The proposed solution for treating the brines of the desalination plant is unique and apparently the first of its kind for plants of this size. According to plans, the plant will provide over 100 MCM water annually, and for this purpose it will draw over twice as much water from the sea, and return a similar quantity of brines. In order to limit interference in the marine environment, it was decided to dilute the water with the cooling water of the Ruthenberg Power Station. Conditions of continuous operation and proper dilution will lead to a slight rise in the salinity level within a range of up to two hundred meters from the pipeline outlet. From thevery first licensing and planning stages, serious attention has been paid to the environmental factors of the project and even before a concessionaire was chosen, a review of the effect on the environment was prepared by the Water Commission. The J. Rom Company has simulated models to forecast the dispersal of brines under various environmental conditions.