Editing Brine (section)

=== Marine environment ===
Brine discharge might lead to an increase in salinity above certain threshold levels that has the potential to affect [[Benthic zone|benthic communities]], especially those more sensitive to osmotic pressure, finally having an effect on their abundance and diversity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=de-la-Ossa-Carretero |first1=J. A. |last2=Del-Pilar-Ruso |first2=Y. |last3=Loya-Fernández |first3=A. |last4=Ferrero-Vicente |first4=L. M. |last5=Marco-Méndez |first5=C. |last6=Martinez-Garcia |first6=E. |last7=Giménez-Casalduero |first7=F. |last8=Sánchez-Lizaso |first8=J. L. |date=2016-02-15 |title=Bioindicators as metrics for environmental monitoring of desalination plant discharges |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15302265 |journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin |volume=103 |issue=1 |pages=313–318 |doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.12.023 |pmid=26781455 |bibcode=2016MarPB.103..313D |issn=0025-326X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Del-Pilar-Ruso |first1=Yoana |last2=Martinez-Garcia |first2=Elena |last3=Giménez-Casalduero |first3=Francisca |last4=Loya-Fernández |first4=Angel |last5=Ferrero-Vicente |first5=Luis Miguel |last6=Marco-Méndez |first6=Candela |last7=de-la-Ossa-Carretero |first7=Jose Antonio |last8=Sánchez-Lizaso |first8=José Luis |date=2015-03-01 |title=Benthic community recovery from brine impact after the implementation of mitigation measures |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004313541400815X |journal=Water Research |volume=70 |pages=325–336 |doi=10.1016/j.watres.2014.11.036 |pmid=25543242 |bibcode=2015WatRe..70..325D |hdl=10045/44105 |issn=0043-1354|hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sánchez-Lizaso |first1=José Luis |last2=Romero |first2=Javier |last3=Ruiz |first3=Juanma |last4=Gacia |first4=Esperança |last5=Buceta |first5=José Luis |last6=Invers |first6=Olga |last7=Fernández Torquemada |first7=Yolanda |last8=Mas |first8=Julio |last9=Ruiz-Mateo |first9=Antonio |last10=Manzanera |first10=Marta |date=2008-03-01 |title=Salinity tolerance of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica: recommendations to minimize the impact of brine discharges from desalination plants |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0011916407007461 |journal=Desalination |series=European Desalination Society and Center for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), Sani Resort 22 –25 April 2007, Halkidiki, Greece |volume=221 |issue=1 |pages=602–607 |doi=10.1016/j.desal.2007.01.119 |bibcode=2008Desal.221..602S |issn=0011-9164}}</ref>

However, if appropriate [[mitigation]] measures are applied, the potential environmental impacts of discharges from SWRO plants can be correctly minimized.<ref name="Fernández-Torquemada 2019 27–37"/><ref name="Sola 111813"/> Some examples can be found in countries such as [[Spain]], [[Israel]], [[Chile]] or [[Australia]], in which the mitigation measures adopted reduce the area affected by the discharge, guaranteeing a [[Sustainability|sustainable]] development of the desalination process without significant impacts on marine ecosystems.<ref name="Del-Pilar-Ruso 325–336">{{Cite journal |last1=Del-Pilar-Ruso |first1=Yoana |last2=Martinez-Garcia |first2=Elena |last3=Giménez-Casalduero |first3=Francisca |last4=Loya-Fernández |first4=Angel |last5=Ferrero-Vicente |first5=Luis Miguel |last6=Marco-Méndez |first6=Candela |last7=de-la-Ossa-Carretero |first7=Jose Antonio |last8=Sánchez-Lizaso |first8=José Luis |date=March 2015 |title=Benthic community recovery from brine impact after the implementation of mitigation measures |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2014.11.036 |journal=Water Research |volume=70 |pages=325–336 |doi=10.1016/j.watres.2014.11.036 |pmid=25543242 |bibcode=2015WatRe..70..325D |hdl=10045/44105 |issn=0043-1354|hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fernández-Torquemada |first1=Yolanda |last2=Carratalá |first2=Adoración |last3=Sánchez Lizaso |first3=José Luis |date=2019 |title=Impact of brine on the marine environment and how it can be reduced |url=http://www.deswater.com/DWT_abstracts/vol_167/167_2019_27.pdf |journal=Desalination and Water Treatment |volume=167 |pages=27–37 |doi=10.5004/dwt.2019.24615|bibcode=2019DWatT.167...27F |hdl=10045/101370 }}</ref><ref name="Kelaher 735–744">{{Cite journal |last1=Kelaher |first1=Brendan P. |last2=Clark |first2=Graeme F. |last3=Johnston |first3=Emma L. |last4=Coleman |first4=Melinda A. |date=2020-01-21 |title=Effect of Desalination Discharge on the Abundance and Diversity of Reef Fishes |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b03565 |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |language=en |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=735–744 |doi=10.1021/acs.est.9b03565 |pmid=31849222 |bibcode=2020EnST...54..735K |issn=0013-936X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Muñoz |first1=Pamela T. |last2=Rodríguez-Rojas |first2=Fernanda |last3=Celis-Plá |first3=Paula S. M. |last4=López-Marras |first4=Américo |last5=Blanco-Murillo |first5=Fabio |last6=Sola |first6=Iván |last7=Lavergne |first7=Céline |last8=Valenzuela |first8=Fernando |last9=Orrego |first9=Rodrigo |last10=Sánchez-Lizaso |first10=José Luis |last11=Sáez |first11=Claudio A. |date=2023 |title=Desalination effects on macroalgae (part b): Transplantation experiments at brine-impacted sites with Dictyota spp. from the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean Sea |journal=Frontiers in Marine Science |volume=10 |doi=10.3389/fmars.2023.1042799 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2023FrMaS..1042799M |issn=2296-7745|hdl=10045/131985 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rodríguez-Rojas |first1=Fernanda |last2=López-Marras |first2=Américo |last3=Celis-Plá |first3=Paula S.M. |last4=Muñoz |first4=Pamela |last5=García-Bartolomei |first5=Enzo |last6=Valenzuela |first6=Fernando |last7=Orrego |first7=Rodrigo |last8=Carratalá |first8=Adoración |last9=Sánchez-Lizaso |first9=José Luis |last10=Sáez |first10=Claudio A. |date=September 2020 |title=Ecophysiological and cellular stress responses in the cosmopolitan brown macroalga Ectocarpus as biomonitoring tools for assessing desalination brine impacts |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114527 |journal=Desalination |volume=489 |pages=114527 |doi=10.1016/j.desal.2020.114527 |bibcode=2020Desal.48914527R |issn=0011-9164}}</ref><ref name="Sola 111813"/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sola |first1=Iván |last2=Zarzo |first2=Domingo |last3=Carratalá |first3=Adoración |last4=Fernández-Torquemada |first4=Yolanda |last5=de-la-Ossa-Carretero |first5=José A. |last6=Del-Pilar-Ruso |first6=Yoana |last7=Sánchez-Lizaso |first7=José Luis |date=October 2020 |title=Review of the management of brine discharges in Spain |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105301 |journal=Ocean & Coastal Management |volume=196 |pages=105301 |doi=10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105301 |bibcode=2020OCM...19605301S |issn=0964-5691}}</ref> When noticeable effects have been detected on the [[Natural environment|environment]] surrounding discharge areas, it generally corresponds to old desalination plants in which the correct [[Mitigation|mitigation measures]] were not implemented.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Belatoui |first1=Abdelmalek |last2=Bouabessalam |first2=Hassiba |last3=Hacene |first3=Omar Rouane |last4=de-la-Ossa-Carretero |first4=Jose Antonio |last5=Martinez-Garcia |first5=Elena |last6=Sanchez-Lizaso |first6=Jose Luis |date=2017 |title=Environmental effects of brine discharge from two desalinations plants in Algeria (South Western Mediterranean) |url=https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2017.20812 |journal=Desalination and Water Treatment |volume=76 |pages=311–318 |doi=10.5004/dwt.2017.20812|bibcode=2017DWatT..76..311B }}</ref><ref name="Del-Pilar-Ruso 325–336"/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fernández-Torquemada |first1=Yolanda |last2=González-Correa |first2=José Miguel |last3=Sánchez-Lizaso |first3=José Luis |date=January 2013 |title=Echinoderms as indicators of brine discharge impacts |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19443994.2012.716609 |journal=Desalination and Water Treatment |language=en |volume=51 |issue=1–3 |pages=567–573 |doi=10.1080/19443994.2012.716609 |bibcode=2013DWatT..51..567F |hdl=10045/27557 |issn=1944-3994|hdl-access=free }}</ref> Some examples can be found in Spain, Australia or Chile, where it has been shown that saline plumes do not exceed values of 5% with respect to the natural salinity of the sea in a [[radius]] less than 100 m from the point of discharge when proper measures are adopted.<ref name="Kelaher 735–744"/><ref name="Sola 111813"/>