Table 2.
Volumes of Saline Aqueous Sources Available Within or Proximate to the U.S.
| Saline Water Source | Availability (millions of cubic meters, Mm3) | References/Assumptions |
|---|---|---|
| Seawater - All Oceans | 1.39 × 1012 | 35 |
| Seawater - U.S. Continental Shelf | 8 × 107 | 36 |
| Seawater Brine from Ten Hypothetical U.S. 100 MGD (0.379 Mm3/day) Desalination Facilities | 1.39 × 103/year | *Assuming 1000 MGD (10 × 100 MGD) of desalinated water will produce 1000 MGD (3.79 Mm3/day) of brine (with extraction of 2000 MGD of seawater by intake). |
| Produced Water - Conventional - U.S. Total | 3.34 × 103/year | 37 |
| Produced Water – Unconventional - U.S. Total | 79.5/year | 38 |
| Geothermal Water Associated with Geothermal Energy Facilities - U.S. Total | 381/year | 39,40 |
| Acid Mine Drainage - Coal* - U.S. Total | 70/year | 41 |
| Acid Mine Drainage - Hard Rock** - U.S. Total | 7.5/year | 42 |
| Mine Process Water – Copper Mine Raffinate - U.S. Total | 70/year | 43 |
| Coal Power - Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewater - Avg. of 100 U.S. Plants*** | 62/year | 44 |
| Coal Power - Combustion Residuals Leachate - Avg. of 110 U.S. Plants**** | 14/year | 44 |
*
Volume estimated from a single, maximum-flow measured in an inventory of 140 abandoned coal mines in Pennsylvania. Additional volume available from dispersed sources.
**
Volume estimate is for acid mine drainage from 48 features in the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund Site producing 20,000 m3 per day. Additional volume available from dispersed sources.
***
Average discharge of steam electric power facilities is 1,710 m3 per day per plant (n=100).
****
Average discharge of steam electric power facilities is 300–340 m3 per day per plant(n=100–110); assumed 340 m3 per day per plant from 110 plants.