Desalination Plants: Technology to Supply Water to Mining Processes and Local Populations, Opportunities and Environmental Impact

Background: Mining operations generate high demand of water resources in the areas where they operate; in Chile, the majority of major mining operations are concentrated in the north, close to the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. Fresh water is no longer available in big quantities in the region; for this reason, new alternatives have been developed. The use of seawater and desalination plants has increased in the past years and significant projects are underway. Unfortunately, desalination plant discharge may have an environmental impact that needs to be studied and monitored. In this chapter, we attempt to review state of the art desalination technologies, their environmental impact, and the current situation in Chile, together with our recommendations to control and diminish any negative impacts desalination plants could potentially produce. Conclusion: In order to protect and preserve the marine environment and make use of seawater as a source of industrial water, it is important to study, measure, and evaluate the potential impacts of the desalination plant on the marine environment, implemented by multidisciplinary teams, in order to mitigate ecological harm. The benefits and economic impacts of a new source of water must also be evaluated taking into account the projected water needs of industrial operations in the region. Under these conditions, desalination plants have the potential to be a viable and sustainable technology.