What are the effects of using saline ground waters on freshwater resources and the environment?
Although one might at first consider saline ground water as a new source of water, the parts of aquifers containing saline water commonly are connected hydraulically to parts of the same aquifer or aquifer system that contain freshwater. Thus, development of one resource affects the other, as well as potentially affecting the flow and quality of surface-water bodies connected to the ground-water system. These effects may extend over many years or decades. Techniques are needed to predict the effects of saline ground-water development in three dimensions and with time. Variable density numerical models have been used successfully to simulate the subsurface occurrence and movement of saltwater in coastal environments in many locations. The use of these models to quantify the movement of inland saline water resources would aid in understanding the impacts of utilizing saline water resources for desalination.
