Options for brine ​disposal except ​deep well ​injection - any suggestions?

I work for a ​water company ​and we have to ​use RO plants ​at several ​locations. I ​would like to ​know the most ​cost effective method of brine ​disposal except ​deep well ​injection. ​ ​

Zahiruddin ​Khan

Taxonomy

• Electrodeionization
• Desalination
• Solar Desalination
• Sustainable Desalination

2 Answers

1. Supply of brine to traditional seasalt harversting, if any available in local, regional or national reach. For example in Pakistan small niche market served by https://hubpak.com/. Cost effectivness will probably depend on brine contamination and transport distances and of course removal of any undesired mineral and contaminats (chemicals used in SWRO) in order to ensure food safety requirements for salt. Khuda Hafez.

2. If the RO plants are inland brackish and are very small , then  lined evaporation ponds  with  fine jet spray (eg Turbomister)  will often be the lowest solution.  However the land requirement is high,  double liners can be demanded by environment bodies , and the final salt residue will need disposal, and there are issues of wild life protection  .     Thermal Zero Liquid Discharge plants are insanely expensive  in capex and opex .   Shallow well disposal has no sustainable future.       If a country  has many such  RO plants then it could consider a strategic  pipe network for brine  taking the brine to the sea.   If there is an existing solar salt farm then that could be used but it environmentally problematic to build a new solar salt farm  (bitterns issue).     If the RO plant is already near the coast, then  disposal to the sea  with jet diffusers is always the best solution.