A spatial decision framework for sustainable desalination

Abstract

Water scarcity is an increasingly critical global issue, driven by population growth, industrial development, and the effects of climate change. Desalination has become a weighty strategy to ensure freshwater supply, particularly in arid and water-stressed regions. However, deploying desalination plants presents challenges such as high energy demands, environmental impact, and the need for sustainable site selection. This study proposes an integrated spatial analysis method that combines geographic data with multi-criteria decision-making to identify suitable locations for desalination facilities. The approach evaluates factors such as land availability, climatic conditions, energy costs, environmental risks, brine discharge, and eutrophication potential. A decision-analysis technique was used to balance competing objectives and produce suitability maps. The proposed method also incorporates strategies to minimize environmental impacts, including technologies that eliminate liquid waste and use renewable energy sources. A case study was conducted across the European continent. The analysis identified 3,309 suitable sites for desalination plants, located in both coastal and inland areas, covering approximately 10% of the continent's land surface. These results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing advanced desalination systems beyond traditional coastal zones. The resulting framework offers a scalable and adaptable model for sustainable water resource management in diverse environmental and geographic contexts.