200
M. Ahmed, W.H. Shayya, D. Hoey, and J. Al-Handaly
Water tables are lowered by pumping or tile draining and
the drainage water is stored in evaporation ponds. Evapo-
ration ponds are usually the least-costly means of brine
disposal in areas with high evaporation rates and low land
costs. They also provide storage facilities for further pro-
cessing (and value adding) of brines. However, seepage
from poorly constructed evaporation ponds can contami-
nate underlying aquifers. Contamination of feed water
sources is also likely if the reject brine is improperly dis-
Dr. David Hoey is a Senior
Evironmental Officer with the
Newcastle office of Department of
Land and Water Conservation
(DLWC), New South Wales
(NSW), Australia. He conducts sa-
linity audits and recharge assess-
ment for salinity control on a
catchment scale and develops com-
posed, on the surface close to inland desalination plants. mercial opportunities for the utilization of saline products
Given that the cost of disposal of reject brine from inland within the context of the North south West Water Reform
desalination plants can be quite substantial, the identified program in Australia.
research needs should serve as an impetus to finding
Mr. Juma Al-Handaly is a Su-
cheaper but environmentally-friendly methods of disposal
perintendent in the College of Agri-
of brine reject.
culture, Sultan Qaboos University,
Sultanate of Oman. Email:
jalhandhaly@hotmail.com. He has
Acknowledgement
more than 12 years of experience
This study was made possible through funding from
in field and laboratory-based re-
the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC)
search activities. He is presently
under contract number 98-R-004.
working on his MS in environmental
engineering at UAE University in Al-Ain, United Arab
Emirates. His present research interest is on chemical
About the Authors
composition of reject brine from desalination plants and
Dr. Mushtaque Ahmed is an
their impact on the marine environment.
Assistant Professor in the Depart-
ment of Soil and Water Sciences at
Discussions open until December 1, 2002.
Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate
of Oman.Email: ahmedm@squ.
References
edu.om. He has over 20 years of
experience working in various coun-
Abdel-Aal, H.K., K.M. Ba-Lubaid, D.K. Al-Harbi, and
tries dealing with water resources
A.A.Shaikh. 1990a. “Recovery of Mineral Salts and Potable
related issues. His current research
Water from Desalting Plant Efluents by Evaporation: Part I.
interests are on issues related to water quality (such as
Evaluation of the Physical Properties of Highly Concentrated
nitrate and pesticides in groundwater), wastewater dis-
Brines.” Separation Science and Technology 25, No. 3: 309–
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water and greywater for irrigation, and use of models for
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Abdel-Aal, H.K., K.M. Ba-Lubaid, A.A. Shaikh, and D.K. Al-
Harbi. 1990b. “Recovery of Mineral Salts and Potable Water
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Dr. Walid H. Shayya is an As-
sociate Professor in the Department
of Agricultural Engineering at the
Ahmed, M, W. Shayya, J. AL-Handaly, D. Hoey, and A.
Mahendran. 2000. Investigation on the Use of Evaporation
Ponds for Brine Disposal in Inland Desalination Plants:
Final report (Project 97-A-007, Contract 98-R-04). Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman: The Middle East Desalination Research
Center.
State University of New York at
Morrisville, New York. Email:
shayyaw@morrisville.edu. He is the
co-editor of a three volume book
series on water management, puri-
fication, and conservation in arid cli-
Ahmed, M., W. Shayya, D. Hoey, and J. Al-Handaly. 2001a.
mates. He has over 15 years of experience in research in a
variety of areas including desalination, computer modeling
and numerical analysis, irrigation and drainage, water man-
agement, and animal waste management.
“Brine Disposal from Reverse Osmosis Plants in Oman and
the United Arab Emirates.” Desalination 133: 135–147.
Ahmed, M.,A.Arakel, D. Hoey, and M. Coleman. 2001b. “Inte-
grated Power, Water and Salt Generation: A Discussion Pa-
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IWRA, Water International, Volume 27, Number 2, June 2002