Analysis of the process of environmental impact assessment for seawater desalination plants in Spain

Desalination generates drinking water and enhances the economic, social, and environmental development of many areas with few water resources, such as parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and southern Europe (such as Spain and Cyprus). Desalination plants may cause environmental impacts in coastal areas and so it is necessary to submit plans for new plants to a process of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in order to achieve more environmentally viable projects, meaning: optimal locations; appropriately used systems and technologies; effective preventive, compensatory, and corrective measures; and social and environmental acceptance. This article contains a study of the process of environmental impact assessment for seawater desalination projects during the last 12 years in Spain through an analysis of information published in the Records of Decisions (RODs). The study describes the main aspects of the process and identifies areas for improvement. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Desalination and the environment are not necessarily rivals and can be complementary [6]. Indeed desalination can be considered as a tool for safeguarding natural water resources, but such plants should not have an impact on the land or sea environment. The method to minimise impact on the environment is the use of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to select the best technology, location, as well as appropriate protective, corrective, and compensatory measures. In the scoping phase, an acceptable rate of responses (62.30%) to consultative enquiries was reached for the public sector—but a very low rate was reached for the private sector (13.97%). Therefore, the scoping process should be strengthened with a greater number of consultations. This is because a proper definition of the objectives and scope of the EIS will speed the whole process. The main impact of SWDPs is the brine discharge that can cause damages to the underwater meadows of the Mediterranean tapeweed, green seaweed and marine wildlife. On the surface, noise, energy consumption, visual impact provoked by the facilities, and the collusion and electrocution of birds with the power lines are the major impacts identified and assessed. Public participation during the exhibition period is generally negligible. In those procedures where there was greater participation, options were modified to achieve better solutions from the environmental point of view. Therefore, the public administration should improve and enhance mechanisms for public participation. EPM must be a necessary figure during the monitoring phase to achieve the objectives of the EIS and the ROD, and as a consequence, protect the environment.