Abstract
Groundwater salinity presents a critical environmental issue in arid regions, where agricultural irrigation and industrial water use place considerable stress on limited freshwater reserves. This research employs a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework to evaluate the extent to which farming activities, fertilizer applications, industrial operations, and desalination processes contribute to salinity pressures. Localized inventory models were constructed in SimaPro using datasets from ecoinvent and Agri-footprint to represent resource inputs, operational practices, and pollutant releases to soil and water. The agricultural system was characterized by irrigation demand, agrochemical inputs, and nutrient losses, while the industrial system accounted for energy consumption, process chemicals, and wastewater discharges. To better capture groundwater impacts, a customized flow for total dissolved solids (TDS) was introduced. Environmental impacts were quantified across various categories, including climate change, eutrophication, acidification, toxicity, and water scarcity, in addition to direct TDS load estimates. The results illustrate the relative influence of agriculture and industry on groundwater quality, with key hotspots identified in fertilizer leaching and desalination brine discharge. The analysis underscores trade-offs between reliance on desalinated water and abstraction from groundwater resources. Overall, the study provides a systems-level perspective on water–salinity interactions in Qatar and delivers evidence to guide policy development and resource management toward more sustainable practices.
Presenters
Amin EsmaeiliAssociate Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Ad Dawhah, Qatar
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Assessing Impacts in Diverse Ecosystems
KEYWORDS
Life Cycle Assessment, Groundwater Salinity, Arid Regions, Agri-footprint
