Analysis of a sea outfall discharge

Abstract

A number of studies have been conducted to determine the impact of a sea outfall discharging primary treated effluent into the Mediterranean Sea. The outfall diffuser would be located from 6 to 10 Km offshore from the shoreline of Alexandria. Impact of the effluent discharge from the proposed outfall diffuser is of major concern to Alexandria. To determine the impact of the proposed discharge a number of potential discharge locations, at increasing distances from the shoreline were investigated. An optimum diffuser manifold was designed to obtain maximum initial dilution. To analyze near field initial dilutions and far field transport, mixing and bacterial die-off two different computer models were developed. The far field transient plume model provided concentration contours of fecal coliform bacteria. Results showed that it was feasible to build the outfall diffuser 8 to 10 Km from shoreline.