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Title: | Environmental audit for registration of desalination plant at Vilamendhoo Resort, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives |
Authors: | CDE Consulting |
Keywords: | Desalination plant Legislative and regulatory considerations Existing baseline conditions Physical environment Biological environment Human environment Environmental impacts Mitigation measures Environmental impact assessments |
Issue Date: | Apr-2011 |
Citation: | CDE Consultancy. (2011). Environmental audit for registration of desalination plant at Vilamendhoo Resort, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, Maldives. Male': Maldives |
Abstract: | The purpose of this Environmental Audit report is to fulfill the requirements of Maldives Water and
Sanitation Authority guidelines to get necessary environmental clearance from the Environmental
Protection Agency to carry out the registration the utility services.
The project involves auditing of the existing desalination plant in Vilamendhoo Resort and Spa.
Desalination system involves two plants with capacity 200 m3 per day each and two water storage tanks
with a capacity of 710 m3. The seawater intake is located on the southern side of the island with a length
of 170 m from the desalination plant house. The brine discharge point is located on the northern side of
the island at a distance of 130 m from the desalination plant house.
The structural integrity of the facilities is considered good. Noise levels are perceived as high for a mixed
residential and industrial zone although it must be taken into account that space is limited and location
of staff areas near plant house is inevitable.
The environmental impacts associated with this project include, increased noise levels and impact on
marine environment due to brine discharge. There are indirect impacts associated with consumption of
energy for desalination. Power generation has the potential to degrade air quality and contributes to
global warming. In addition, fuel handling related to power generation is a potential risk for ground
water and soil contamination from fuel spills and leaks.
Noise measurements taken during the field visit conforms to international standards while marine water
quality tests show normal conditions although there are limitations in the parameters tested due to
unavailability of tests at National Health Laboratory. Marine life needs to be further monitored at the
brine discharge location to ascertain whether there is a long term impact from discharge of brine. Visual
observation identifies no notable damage to existing vegetation around the desalination plant house
and no indication of any fuel spills or leaks around the area. Groundwater quality tests that could be
conducted shows that the groundwater is in good condition.
Mitigation measures that are in place to reduce the environmental impacts associated with the
operation of the facility include appropriate distance of brine and seawater pipes from shoreline and
installation of sound attenuators to reduce the noise levels from the plant house. In order to protect the
environment from potential fuel spills, proper pipelines are established and fuel storage is in bunded
areas.
A monitoring plan is proposed to observe any changes taking place due to the operation of desalination
plant. In the event that monitoring indicates that any environmental quality is deteriorating to
unacceptable levels, the proponent will correct operation procedures that are contributing to the
problem and/or undertake necessary engineering installations. |
URI: | http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/3834 |
Appears in Collections: | ތިމާވެށި Environment A
|
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