Question

Which are negative effects of desalination plants in the middle east? check all that apply?

Answer 1

The negative effects of desalination plants in the Middle East include increased salts in the soil, nutrient-poor soils, and desertification.

Step-by-step explanation:

The negative effects of desalination plants in the Middle East include increased salts in the soil, nutrient-poor soils, and desertification.

Desalination plants extract salt from seawater to make it usable for drinking and irrigation purposes. However, the byproduct of this process is highly concentrated saltwater, which is discharged back into the sea. Over time, this can increase the salt content in the surrounding soil, making it less fertile and limiting plant growth. Additionally, the high demand for water in the Middle East has resulted in the pumping of groundwater faster than it can be replenished, leading to desertification.

Answer 2

One disadvantage is the high cost to build a desalination plant, and it needs a enormous amount of energy to run the plant. The heavy consumption of energy would eventually affect the cost of energy. Another disadvantage is the environmental impact to water desalination plants. Disposal of the salt which was removed from the water, known as brine, can change the salinity and lower the amount of oxygen in the water at the disposal site, thus, pressuring or killing animals not used to the higher levels of salt. Also, the desalination process uses or produces numerous chemicals including chlorine, carbon dioxide, hydrochloric acid, etc. that can be harmful in high concentrations.