Faced with the scarcity of water resources, the low filling rate of the dams and the increasingly frequent dryness episodes, the desalination of seawater seems to offer a short -term solution to meet the needs of the regions affected by the dryness, and in particular in Tunisia where the dams reached a filling level of 21.7 % on October 1. However, this technology, although promising, presents major challenges linked to its environmental impact and its energy consumption.
Desalination is mainly broken down into two techniques: the thermal processes which include the distillation of salt water to make it drinkable and the inverse osmosis, now predominant, which extracts fresh water from sea water by passing it through a membrane. Although this last method is less energy -consuming, it remains expensive in electricity. In addition, the majority of desalination plants still work thanks to fossil fuels, thus aggravating their carbon footprint.
One of the main by-products of desalination is brine, very salty water which can cause ecological imbalances when rejected in the oceans. These discharges threaten marine fauna, in particular corals, algae and certain species of molluscs. In addition, heavy metals and other pollutants present in these discharges can accumulate in marine organisms, affecting food chains and, in the long term, biodiversity.
Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are among the largest users of this technology. However, their massive recourse to desalination also contributes to the global production of brine, which accentuates environmental concerns. In these regions, the increased levels of water salinity even affect the regulation of ocean temperature.
Solutions are under study to mitigate these harmful effects. Hybrid desalination, combining renewable energies and conventional sources, is an explored track. It would reduce the ecological footprint while lowering energy costs. Another option is to enhance the by-products of desalination, transforming the brine into exploitable salts, such as table salt.
Despite its promises, desalination remains an expensive and energy -consuming solution. If innovations such as hybrid desalination or the reuse of brine for agriculture can help limit its impacts, technological progress is still necessary to make it a truly durable alternative to the water crisis.
While waiting to find a lasting solution, it is necessary to limit our waste of water. Indeed, every day, hundreds of liters of drinking water are wasted without us being really aware of it. Whether by letting the tap flow while you brush your teeth, or taking too long showers, these everyday gestures contribute to the exhaustion of a precious resource.
With climate change and the scarcity of water in many regions of the world, it is essential to rethink our consumption. By adopting more responsible habits, we can preserve this vital resource for future generations. Let’s use the water sparingly because each drop counts.
