Inland dams

Desalination

Recycled wastewater

Coastal reservoir

Energy used (×10⁹ kWh)

0

2.0

1.0

0

Green-house emission

CO₂ (million ton)

0

3.33

1.67

0

Construction cost

(billion $AUD)

11.42

9.28

10

2.8

Maintenance/

operation cost

Low

High

High

low

Impacts on ecosystem

Loss of

biodiversity

Brine on marine biodiversity.

Low

No negative impacts

Life span

100

20 years

20 years

Infinite

Sustainability

Permanent

The damage on ecosystem is remediable.

No damage on the ecosystem

Sustainable