Impact on Seawater Composition from Brine Disposal at EMU Desalination Plant

• This study deals with the desalination plant at the Eastern Mediterranean University (Cyprus) and its environmental impact. The reverse osmosis plant produces normally 42m3/hr potable water from 120m3/hr feed. The feed concentration reaches up to 36,000ppm TDS, while an approximate amount of 73.8m3/hr is led out from a pipe of 10inches diameter with a concentration of about 56,000ppm and the permeate 400ppm of potable water. A maximum brine discharge concentration of about 74,180ppm TDS was recorded close to the outlet. During brine disposal an increase in salinity in the coastal zone is observed. To overcome the potential impact of brine disposal and facilitate an optimal operation in the coastal and marine environment, the basis for a solution strategy was developed.Due to the high salt concentration in the brine disposal to return the sea, impacts on the environment can result from the brine discharge, which contains some chemicals used in the desalination process that may affect the coastal areas and the marine ecosystem negatively. Many plants use biocides such as chlorine to clean pipes or to pre-treat the water. These chemicals should be removed before the brine is released to the ocean, which is not always the case. A part of this study started 10 days after the plant had been fully stopped, in other words the plant had zero discharge to the sea during the analysis period when repairs took place. Based on measurements during this period, comparisons could be made between full-capacity brine discharge and non-working plant. The pipeline of the brine discharge into the sea was located in shallow water, and the measurement depth in front of the pipe outlet was 30 cm and the average depth in the investigated region was about 2.5m. Corresponding data were taken during operation of the reverse osmosis plant as well. Finally, a simple two-dimensional mathematical model of the discharge and an evaluation of the effect of the brine disposal on the marine chemistry was developed.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Vattenteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Water Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Eastern Mediterranean University

Brine Disposal

Desalination Plant

Cyprus

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)