The advantages of NF desalination of brackish water for sustainable irrigation: The case of the Arava Valley in Israel

Andrea Ghermandi; Rami Messalem

doi:10.5004/dwt.2009.824

The advantages of NF desalination of brackish water for sustainable irrigation: The case of the Arava Valley in Israel

Andrea Ghermandi
, Rami Messalem

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Irrigation with brackish water is a widespread practice in freshwater-poor regions with ample brackish water resources, but it has severe limitations. Desalination is a water saving alternative to brackish water irrigation, but its diffusion as a viable method of water treatment has been limited by high costs and concern about the lack of plant nutrients in desalinated water. In this paper, we discuss the advantages of nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the production of irrigation water based on the simulation of the performance of a solar-assisted pilot plant in the Arava Valley in Israel. It is argued that the proposed system would consume up to 40% less energy than conventional reverse osmosis desalination, reduce by 34% the currently abstracted groundwater volumes, and increase by 18% the total biomass production of the irrigated crops.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	101-107
Number of pages	7
Journal	Desalination and Water Treatment
Volume	10
Issue number	1-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2009.824
State	Published - 2009
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was conducted within the framework of the CSPD-COMISJO project with the support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The authors thank Avraham Kudish, Aylon Gadiel, Shabtai Cohen, and Dudu Elkayam for their generous support and assistance.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 15 Life on Land

Keywords

Brackish water
Irrigation
Nanofiltration
Reverse osmosis
Solar desalination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Water Science and Technology
Ocean Engineering
Pollution

Access to Document

10.5004/dwt.2009.824

Cite this

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title = "The advantages of NF desalination of brackish water for sustainable irrigation: The case of the Arava Valley in Israel",

abstract = "Irrigation with brackish water is a widespread practice in freshwater-poor regions with ample brackish water resources, but it has severe limitations. Desalination is a water saving alternative to brackish water irrigation, but its diffusion as a viable method of water treatment has been limited by high costs and concern about the lack of plant nutrients in desalinated water. In this paper, we discuss the advantages of nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the production of irrigation water based on the simulation of the performance of a solar-assisted pilot plant in the Arava Valley in Israel. It is argued that the proposed system would consume up to 40\% less energy than conventional reverse osmosis desalination, reduce by 34\% the currently abstracted groundwater volumes, and increase by 18\% the total biomass production of the irrigated crops.",

keywords = "Brackish water, Irrigation, Nanofiltration, Reverse osmosis, Solar desalination",

author = "Andrea Ghermandi and Rami Messalem",

note = "Funding Information: This study was conducted within the framework of the CSPD-COMISJO project with the support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The authors thank Avraham Kudish, Aylon Gadiel, Shabtai Cohen, and Dudu Elkayam for their generous support and assistance.",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.5004/dwt.2009.824",

language = "English",

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pages = "101--107",

journal = "Desalination and Water Treatment",

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T2 - The case of the Arava Valley in Israel

AU - Ghermandi, Andrea

AU - Messalem, Rami

N1 - Funding Information: This study was conducted within the framework of the CSPD-COMISJO project with the support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The authors thank Avraham Kudish, Aylon Gadiel, Shabtai Cohen, and Dudu Elkayam for their generous support and assistance.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Irrigation with brackish water is a widespread practice in freshwater-poor regions with ample brackish water resources, but it has severe limitations. Desalination is a water saving alternative to brackish water irrigation, but its diffusion as a viable method of water treatment has been limited by high costs and concern about the lack of plant nutrients in desalinated water. In this paper, we discuss the advantages of nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the production of irrigation water based on the simulation of the performance of a solar-assisted pilot plant in the Arava Valley in Israel. It is argued that the proposed system would consume up to 40% less energy than conventional reverse osmosis desalination, reduce by 34% the currently abstracted groundwater volumes, and increase by 18% the total biomass production of the irrigated crops.

AB - Irrigation with brackish water is a widespread practice in freshwater-poor regions with ample brackish water resources, but it has severe limitations. Desalination is a water saving alternative to brackish water irrigation, but its diffusion as a viable method of water treatment has been limited by high costs and concern about the lack of plant nutrients in desalinated water. In this paper, we discuss the advantages of nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the production of irrigation water based on the simulation of the performance of a solar-assisted pilot plant in the Arava Valley in Israel. It is argued that the proposed system would consume up to 40% less energy than conventional reverse osmosis desalination, reduce by 34% the currently abstracted groundwater volumes, and increase by 18% the total biomass production of the irrigated crops.

KW - Brackish water

KW - Irrigation

KW - Nanofiltration

KW - Reverse osmosis

KW - Solar desalination

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DO - 10.5004/dwt.2009.824

M3 - Article

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SN - 1944-3994

VL - 10

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EP - 107

JO - Desalination and Water Treatment

JF - Desalination and Water Treatment

IS - 1-3

ER -

The advantages of NF desalination of brackish water for sustainable irrigation: The case of the Arava Valley in Israel

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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