Towards a Sustainable Seawater Desalination in Marine Protected Areas: Modelling and monitoring activity

This study presents numerical simulations on the downstream discharge of a desalination plant planned within a protected marina, in an area facing increasing demand for freshwater. The simulations assess potential impacts on the coastal marine ecosystem, supporting the design of environmentally sustainable solutions. The proposed plant adopts innovative techniques and a strategy aimed at minimizing ecological impact, ensuring a balance between local water needs and environmental protection. The numerical approach enables the analysis of different dispersion and mitigation scenarios, promoting the sustainable integration of the plant into the coastal setting. The results show that, although the response of biological communities is difficult to predict, the mixing of brines with existing freshwater discharge is expected to cause minimal salinity variations, lower than in the current situation, thus potentially limiting salinity-related effects on the marine ecosystem. Therefore, the project highlights the importance of green desalination solutions, based on renewable energy and efficient technologies, as a concrete response to water scarcity. This approach represents a sustainable management model that combines water security with marine ecosystem conservation.