This article demonstrates how the availability of seawater desalination is important, not just as an additional source of water supply on a national scale, but as a potential ‘game changer’ in transboundary hydro-political interactions. The advent of desalination can change the nature of relations from a zero-sum game based on resource capture to a mutually beneficial business-like relationship typical in international commodity trade. It also allows for flexibility in policy approaches, and challenges the advantages and disadvantages hitherto thought of as inherent in upstream–downstream relations. This has wide ramifications for possible cooperation and conflict over international shared water resources. This study analyses the possible implications of desalination on hydro-politics, and then presents a case study of the hydro-political relations between Israel and Jordan in order to demonstrate how different aspects of transboundary political interactions are already being affected by the development of desalination. It demonstrates the ways in which the option of desalination allows states to pursue both unilateral and collaborative policies that were not practical in the period prior to desalination. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for a revised analytical paradigm for analysis of hydro-politics in light of the development of desalination.
Abstract.
Shared water resources are strong sources of conflict in the Jordan River basin shared by Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. The control and allocation of water has been explicitly
made a part of the ongoing peace negotiations. This article calls for the application of international water law in the resolution of water disputes in the negotiating process. The challenging task for negotiators is to translate water law principles into operating rules and procedures for the equitable apportion...
A significant segment of the North American population is unserviced by municipal wastewater systems and, with the seemingly, unending growth of residential communities, commercial complexes, industrial parks and support infrastructure, this situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Traditionally serviced by on-site wastewater treatment units, and often relying on groundwater supply, these communities and developments have severely taxed the environmental resources and attenuation capacity in...
`In four years, half of San Diego may be filling its glasses with tap water that once ran through its toilets,` reported the San Diego Union-Tribune recently. A plan to mix `repurified water` with the City`s raw drinking water reservoir could become a reality, thanks to the wonders of water treatment technology.
Such a possibility elicits various reactions including disgust, marvel and fear. Although the public generally trusts and admires modern technology, politicians and even scientists fear the grave repercuss...
Abstract
A waste treatment unit has been designed to recover water and various components from an aluminum can manufacturing process. Due to the scarcity of water in the Middle East and its inherent cost, water recovery is both necessary and cost effective. The manufacturing process generates: 1) an 11,356 L/hr (50 gpm) aqueous stream contaminated with hydrofluoric acid, dissolved aluminum, and various oil/surfactant complexes at a pH of <2 and 2) a 2,271 L/hr (10 gpm) aqueous stream with 3-10% emulsified...
A wave of privatization is rolling through the water industry – at the environment‘s expense? In order to provide an answer to this question, the Environmental-Rating agency oekom research AG, Munich, put a number of water supply companies and manufacturers of water appliances to the environmental test. In results published today, oekom identifies the British water supplier Severn Trent as the environmental leader of the water supply group with a B grade in the overall Environmental-Rating. The Austrian water...
Abstract
Africa
The economic and social needs of Africa depends more on its environmental resources but these natural resources are seriously declining and that is really effecting the entire region. Sustainable development in this rapidly changing region has become an imperative, and must take place in the complex context of a diverse and changing ecosystem, political transition and evolution toward market economies.
The region is heading towards integrating environmental components into sectors like...
Introduction
Even if you’re an expert in reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology, you may be overlooking some applications using often neglected cousins of RO: nanofiltration (NF) and ultrafiltration (UF).
Although virtually identical in looks to RO membranes, NF and UF membranes serve distinctly different separation functions. Dramatic levels of resource recovery, efficiency improvement and pollution prevention are compelling incentives for the industry to continue to use NF and UF.
Membrane separation...
A wide variety of membrane types, sizes, construction options and techniques are available for removing salt from water.
There are basically two types of commercial membranes used in RO applications today: cellulose acetate (CA) and thin film (TF). The former is considered an integral membrane, the latter a composite membrane.
The following is basic criteria to compare one type to the other:
1.- CA membranes
CA initially achieved acceptable results with brackish water, but never with seawater because of...
The U.S. Department of Energy`s (DOE`s) Environmental Restoration Program directs the assessment and cleanup of inactive sites and surplus facilities contaminated from previous defense and non-defense-related programs. All cleanup activities must comply with federal, state, Indian Nation, and local laws and regulations. In completing environmental restoration activities, DOE is committed to working with stakeholders to understand technical issues and evaluate alternatives. Two important program goals include...
Introduction
Spiral-wound membrane elements (sepralators) were used mainly for basic water purification until the mid to late 1970s, when broader uses began to receive attention. New applications often required special consideration such as; sanitary construction for the dairy industry, high temperature for food processes and waste streams, and high pressure capability for desalination. In addition, aggressive chemicals either in the feed stream or in necessary cleaners had to be dealt with. As the sophistication...
Customer comments
No comments were found for Desalination as a game-changer in transboundary hydro-politics. Be the first to comment!
