Patent ID: 7997148

Claim:
A method for detecting a source of submarine groundwater discharge suitable for processing by a desalination plant, comprising: providing at least one submersible seepage meter capable of measuring water salinity; disposing the at least one submersible seepage meter at at least one interface between a coastal aquifer and a body of saline water; measuring, with the at least one seepage meter, a flow of water through the at least one interface, measuring, with the at least one seepage meter, a flow direction of the flow of water through the at least one interface, measuring, with the at least one seepage meter, the salinity of the flow of water through the at least one interface, and detecting, with the at least one seepage meter, a location of the source of submarine groundwater discharge supplying the flow of water through the at least one interface, wherein the flow of water from the source of submarine groundwater discharge has at least one of a lower salinity than the body of saline water, and a flow direction towards the body of saline water.