Abstract

The desalination of the brackish waters is a technology of coexistence with the semi-arid and its adoption implies in determining the environmental impacts due to the reject brine generated. Therefore, this work evaluated the hydrochemical characteristics of well water (feed water), drinking water (purified) and reject brine from reverse osmosis desalination plants in Western Meso-region, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. During the periods between October 2013 and November 2014, four water samples were taken at seven inland desalination plants in communities and rural settlements. The hydrochemical characteristics of the waters were evaluated using multivariate statistical analysis. The following physico-chemical parameters of water collected were evaluated: electrical conductivity (EC_w), pH, concentrations of cations (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) and anions (chloride, carbonate and bicarbonate), Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Langelier Saturation Index, Stability Index of Ryznar, and the Calcium/Magnesium ratio. Well water and reject brine were classified into six groups, while purified water was classified into seven groups with different levels of risk of salinization, sodification and ions toxicity.

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