Main externalities associated with desalination - Existing study details [Dataset]

This dataset is one of seven datasets that analyses a water supply option in terms of externalities (positive and negative effects that are not taken into account directly in market-place transactions). The water service option covered in this dataset is desalination, which involves removing the salt from seawater (or brackish groundwater) to make it useable for a range of purposes, including drinking. Related datasets cover stormwater harvesting, dams, wastewater recycling, groundwater, greywater and rainwater tanks. Each dataset identifies the social, environmental and economic impacts associated with the option in general and for each stage in its life cycle. Stages generally comprise the collection, storage, treatment, distribution of water and, finally, the decommissioning of the water supply option. The externalities were identified by an extensive survey of existing research and literature in water-related studies and through technical analysis of the option characteristics and technologies. The literature is vast and, at times, contradictory. The data is intended to provide an overview of the externalities that must be considered in the externality evaluation process, and does not provide not definitive values for option impacts as externality impacts will be site-specific.

本数据集为七个数据集之一，旨在从外部性（externality）视角分析某一供水方案——外部性指未直接纳入市场交易核算的正负效应。本数据集涵盖的供水方案为海水淡化（desalination），即从海水或微咸地下水中脱除盐分，使其可应用于包括饮用在内的多种场景。其余相关数据集分别涵盖雨水收集（stormwater harvesting）、大坝建设、废水回用、地下水利用、灰水（greywater）处理以及雨水罐储水等供水方案。各数据集均会明确该供水方案整体及其全生命周期各阶段的社会、环境与经济影响。全生命周期阶段通常涵盖水源收集、储水、水处理、输水配水，以及最终的供水设施退役处置。本次外部性识别工作通过对水务相关领域现有研究与文献的系统性调研，结合该方案特性与技术的分析完成。相关文献体量庞大，且部分结论存在矛盾。本数据集旨在为外部性评估流程中需考量的各类外部性提供概览性参考，并未提供该供水方案影响的确定数值——因外部性影响会因场地条件不同而存在差异。