Far field modeling of the Mamala Bay outfalls

Abstract

The results of far field modeling of the wastefield formed by the Sand Island, Honolulu, ocean outfall are presented. A far field model, FRFIELD, was coupled to a near field model, NRFIELD. The input data for the models were long time series of oceanographic observations over the whole water column including currents measured by Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers and density stratification measured by thermistor strings. Thousands of simulations were made to predict the statistical variation of wastefield properties around the diffuser. It was shown that the visitation frequency of the wastefield decreases rapidly with distance from the diffuser. The spatial variation of minimum and harmonic average dilutions was also predicted. Average dilution increases rapidly with distance. It is concluded that any impact of the discharge will be confined to a relatively small area around the diffuser and beach impacts are not likely to be significant.