Environmental impact assessment of desalination plants through observations and modeling over Central Red Sea-Yanbu and Rabig

Abstract

Desalination remains in Saudi Arabia the supreme viable alternative to boost the future water supply requirements. The present research is focused on the environmental issue observations and modeling based on dissolved trace metals, hydrographic parameters, and nutrients at the discharging plume and nearby locations of Rabig desalination plant (RDP) and Yanbu desalination plant (YDP) located at the north of Jeddah city (~ 150 and 400 km, respectively). A multi-effect distillation (MED) technology is used in RDP whereas, in YDP, a combination of multistage flashing (MSF), reverse osmosis (RO), and MED technologies is in use for the production of potable waters. The concentration of dissolved Cu, Ni, and Zn was assessed by using cathodic stripping voltammetry. The observed pattern was reflecting an average value of dissolved Cu, Ni, and Zn at RDP that was 8.24, 5.28, and 12.69 nM, respectively. The correspondent changes at YDP were 17.53, 18.06, and 71.19 nM of Cu, Ni, and Zn, respectively. The statistical validation shows a significant positive correlation between metals and temperature with salinity and a significant negative correlation of dissolved oxygen and pH. The background concentration of nearby YDP is comparatively higher and which is ascribed by the negative effects of nearby industries. Detailed investigation of circulation pattern and brine discharge analysis near the Yanbu desalination plant also carried out with the help of 3d hydrodynamical numerical model Delft3d.