Desal Matrix: Inland: Source Water Intake
| Type | Environmental & Public Health Risks/Regulations | Engineering | Energy & Greenhouse Gas Issue | Economics, Finance & Social Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | (environmental impacts, permitting, mitigation) | (technology and performance) | (power needs and carbon footprint) | (benefits and costs, rates, PUC issues, TBL) |
| Brackish Groundwater | Aquifer sustainability and subsidence are significant environmental concerns. | Feedwater intake technology is well-developed and relatively easy to implement. | Energy requirements include power needed to lift water from the ground and pump it to the desal facility. | Costs associated with brackish groundwater and surface water intake technologies are similar to those for traditional water treatment plants. |
| Surface Water | Impingement and entertainment (I&E) of aquatics organisms is a major permitting issue. | Surface water intake technology is well developed but can be expensive and difficult to permit. | Appropriate intake site selection can reduce overall energy consumption. |