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Analyzing the Impact of the Disposed Brine by Deir El-Balah Desalination Plant on Seawater Pollution Level in Gaza-Palestine


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15866/irece.v7i1.8264

Abstract


Water desalination plants produce huge amounts of rejected brine, which is usually sent back to the sea. Whereby, in the long run, it produces detrimental effects on the aquatic life as well as the quality of the seawater in the area. The major aim of the study in this paper is to investigate the effect of disposal brine resulted from a targeted desalination plant (Deir El-Balah, Gaza Strip) on the quality of seawater. Therefore, the seawater characteristics in its natural status has been studied without the effect of brine with a defined reference point. The reference station was 1600 meters to the south of discharge point. Position of reference point R is considered suitable to avoid brine effect since the dominant currents move from south to north direction. Accordingly, the characteristics of the seawater in the discharge area are analyzed and discussed in a comparison with respect to the pre-defined reference point R. The results of the study show that the brine has different effect on seawater quality due to the differentiation in water table over seasons. Generally, the results of the experiments reveal that brine of Deir El-Balah plant has no tangible effect on the seawater quality. This is because the precipitated brine after the desalination process reaches the discharge point with a little volume. As a result, the brine contribution in the seawater pollution level is low in comparison to the physical comparing with the physical and chemical continuous changes in the seawater.
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Keywords


Brine Disposal; Desalination Plant; Gaza; RO; Seawater Pollution; Environmental Impact; EIA; Marine Environment; Brine Discharge

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References


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