Energy for Water and Desalination

Purpose of Review: Energy to source, condition, transport, treat, and deliver water for human use is significant. Stress from mobile populations, irrigation, and climate change means a need to increase energy efficiency in our water systems. This will save billions of dollars in costs for utilities, farmers, and municipalities, reduce pollution, and increase water security. Recent Findings: Seawater desalination is now very efficient. More will be gained from improvements to pre- and post-treatment, capital/infrastructure and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, labor costs, co-location opportunities, and environmental costs. Automation, cost-benefit analysis, and optimization of water deliveries can be developed. Development and implementation of renewable energy and advanced technologies can be used to source, purify, and deliver what were highly impaired source waters for multiple uses. Summary: The work seeks to improve efficiency and interactions in our energy, water, and industrial systems, increase availability and delivery of water for agriculture, and productively leverage connections between our natural and engineered water systems. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG.