DDRI: Desalination and Development: The Technological Transformation of the Gulf of California in the Face of Climate Change

DDRI：海水淡化与开发：气候变化下加利福尼亚湾的技术转型

• 批准号: 1057744
• 负责人: Margaret Wilder
• 金额: $ 1.39万
• 依托单位: University of Arizona
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1057744&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DDRI; Desalination; Development; Technological; Transformation

SummaryThe provision of potable water in urbanizing arid regions is a critical challenge worldwide. The state of Baja California Sur (BCS) is located in Mexico's most arid region where groundwater supplies are insufficient to meet demands. Desalination?the conversion of saline water into potable water offers a potentially limitless supply and is becoming the preferred augmentation strategy in BCS. While desalination can reduce some vulnerabilities (e.g., future water supply), it may increase others (e.g., equity, affordability, environmental impacts, and energy demands). Research will be carried out over a 9-month period in two research sites in BCS (Los Cabos and La Paz), using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, household surveys, and a time-series analysis of secondary data. Significance & broader impactExisting research concludes that while large-scale water infrastructure projects (e.g., dams) have facilitated economic development, they have typically resulted in inequitable social outcomes and negative environmental impacts. This research examines how desalination, a relatively new water infrastructure technology, transforms and is transformed by social and environmental relations By framing desalination as an adaptive management strategy for dealing with growth and climate change, this research will illuminate how technology can alleviate or exacerbate vulnerability to water scarcity. It also highlights the decision-making and regulatory processes involved in adaptation actions. The study addresses an important gap in the understanding of the social and environmental consequences of desalination technology. The policy-oriented approach will develop a set of best management practices for water managers and decision-makers considering the adoption of desalination technology.

摘要在城市化的干旱地区提供饮用水是全世界面临的一个严峻挑战。南下加利福尼亚（BCS）位于墨西哥最干旱的地区，地下水供应不足以满足需求。海水淡化？将盐水转化为饮用水提供了潜在的无限供应，并且正在成为BCS中优选的增强策略。虽然海水淡化可以减少一些脆弱性（例如，未来的水供应），它可能会增加其他（例如，公平性、可负担性、环境影响和能源需求）。研究将在BCS的两个研究地点（洛斯卡沃斯和拉巴斯）进行，为期9个月，采用半结构化访谈、焦点小组、家庭调查和对次级数据的时间序列分析。现有研究得出结论，虽然大型水利基础设施项目（例如，虽然水坝促进了经济发展，但它们通常造成不公平的社会结果和负面的环境影响。本研究探讨了海水淡化，一个相对较新的水基础设施技术，如何转变和社会和环境关系的转变，通过将海水淡化作为一种适应性管理战略，以应对增长和气候变化，本研究将阐明技术如何减轻或加剧水资源短缺的脆弱性。它还强调了适应行动所涉及的决策和监管进程。这项研究解决了在理解海水淡化技术的社会和环境后果方面的一个重要空白。这一面向政策的办法将为考虑采用海水淡化技术的水管理人员和决策者制定一套最佳管理做法。