4. Health, safety and environment

In terms of health and safety, no specific rules apply to desalination plants, which must therefore comply with current regulations:

• on major construction sites;

• in units using pressurized steam to operate distillation units;

• in units with pressurized water for reverse osmosis;

• in both cases, chemical products are used, stored and handled in accordance with the rules specific to each.

As far as the environment is concerned, two aspects merit careful study:

• water intakes: large volumes of water (especially when desalinating by distillation) can create strong currents, drawing fish (especially juveniles) towards the pumps and causing fish mortality and maintenance...