(71c) An Integral Approach of Fit-for-Purpose Water Treatment for Water-Energy Nexus

Freshwater stress and scarcity is one of the most challenging emerging issues due to climate change, rapid population growth, urbanization, and improved standards of living. Desalination of impaired water, such as brackish, reclaimed and plant (process) water, is a resource-efficient solution of "fit-for-prpose" water service strategies. A major part of energy-water nexus concerns the energy efficiency and energy consumption for supplying and treating water. Because the interdependency of water and energy, the paradigm shift from surface water supply to the use of impaired or reused water, energy efficiency to prepare the water became extremely critical to sustainability. One of the emerging industries will be profoundly impacted is the thermoelectric power plants that use the single largest source of surface water withdrawal in the United States (~196 G gal/day, 40% total water withdraws in US) for cooling. Desalination is the most energy-intensive and expensive operation for cooling water to prevent scaling and corrosion. Example of impaired water treatment cost and energy usage impacts on cooling water supply and power production in a thermoelectric power plant is discussed.