| Abstract |
Geothermal energy is being used for heating and in purpose of power generating in many countries for even greater extent. In some cases, cooled geothermal waters are discharged into the rivers. The use of cooled waters for drinking water purposes may be taken under consideration as an alternative method of disposing them. This may also reduce the negative impacts of discharging brackish geothermal waters to the receiving water bodies. This is possible in geothermal field that works in open and/or semi-open system of production wells. Each water intake has its specific features and solutions for desalinating and wastewater disposal that must be developed on a case-by-case basis. When engaging in theoretical considerations, one must therefore take into account the physical properties and chemical composition of the water, environmental conditions, the manner in which the concentrate will be utilized and availability of the suitable technologies. The main objective of this study is to determine the potential of a desalination processes to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS), enhance removal of microelements (such as iron, fluoride, arsenic and boron) and also naturally radionuclides so making geothermal waters suitable for discharge into surface waters or reuse for other, drinking and irrigation purposes. The key issue of the research is utilising the concentrate, which contains a concentrated solution of the chemical elements and compounds removed from the geothermal water. Among the technological enhancements related to the desalination of seawater and saline underground waters which are continuously being developed and implemented, separation processes using pressure-driven membrane processes and hybrid methods that combine the advantages of various technologies play a significant role. Membrane-based water desalination processes and hybrid technologies that combine membrane processes are widely used to produce drinking water in many regions of the world. They are also considered a technologically and economically viable alternative for desalinating water (mainly seawater), often with the use of renewable (solar, wind, geothermal, photovoltaic) energy. The research field includes critical and new areas of research:1) an improvement in the management of fresh water resources through the use of desalinated geothermal waters and 2) the development of the balneotherapy, tourism and leisure sectors using concentrate from geothermal water treatment. |