SWIM-Support Mechanism (SWIM-SM) has concluded the preparation of an assessments aiming to provide the decision makers in Partner Countries with a review and close-up look at the state of the art on BAT for desalination, with special emphasis on applications in rural areas. The findings of the assessment were revised, discussed and validated during the 1st Meeting of the Core Desalination Group (CDG) that took place in Athens on 11-12 June 2012.
During its 1st Meeting the CDG, composed of five international authorities on water desalination joined by national desalination experts from four SWIM-SM countries, also discussed the necessity for the formulation of a regional orientation for desalination tacking stock of existing knowledge and good practices, including previous assessments by UNEP and UNEP MAP, EC funded projects on techno-economic potential on combined solar power desalination plants, work of specialized organizations, etc.;
The CDG and national consultants supported the development of a toolbox to guide water officials in SWIM-SM countries on the proper approach for deciding on desalination using renewable energy resources after exhausting all other available options through water resources demand management. The toolbox could include guidelines for opportunity cost analysis that encompass environmental externalities and measures to minimize environmental impacts associated with desalination construction and operation. Therefore, discussions on the opportunity to keep the focus on rural/remote areas – and the need to produce a toolkit for decision-makers - will be undertaken in the next SWIM-SM steering committee meeting scheduled to convene in Brussels in mid October 2012.
On the other side, all participants recognised the need to address the potential cumulative environmental impacts of proliferating large scale seawater desalination operations around the Mediterranean, which could be addressed by the 2nd SWIM Core Group on Desalination in 2013.
A number of capacity development activities were also recommended to be undertaken by SWIM-SM to support countries in developing their technical and policy making capacities.
For more information: Dr. Hosny Khordagui, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.