Visual plumes coastal dispersion modeling in south-west Sabah

• Main Author: Zainudin, Zaki
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: TA170 Environmental engineering; TC401 River, lake, and water-supply engineering (General); TD169 Environmental protection; TD172 Environmental pollution; TD194 Environmental effects of industries and plants; TD201 Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/3242/1/ICBioE.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/3242/4/Visual_plumes_coastal_dispersion_modeling_in_south-west_sabah.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/3242/

The model used for coastal dispersion modeling was the US EPA Visual Plumes model encompassing the DKHW (Davis, Kannberg, Hirst model for Windows) and Update Merge (UM3) sub-models. In theory, the dilution capacity of open waters, particularly coastal areas, straits and oceans are close to being infinite. This means that for surface and sub-merged point source discharges, the effluent concentration (Ce) will cause insignificant change in the overall ambient water quality. Instead, Ce will eventually reach Ca (ambient concentration) over a spatial distance (vertical and horizontal). This distance is of interest towards water quality preservation efforts as the macro level distribution effects of the pollutant species in question can be determined. The travel distance (lt) is a main function of ambient current velocity (m/s) and direction. Prior to the modeling exercise, field data pertaining to ambient water quality, hydraulic characteristics and tide patterns were collected. The modeling results indicated that there would not be a significant change in ambient concentration for all constituents modeled when the effluent discharge is increased from 1,500 m3/hr to 2,400 m3/hr, as long as the current quality is maintained. The plume travel distance would also not entrain into foreign waters as long as proposed volumetric discharge rate is no violated.