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Journal of Environmental Hydrology
ISSN 1058-3912 |
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Electronic Journal of the International Association for
Environmental Hydrology
JEH Volume 20 (2012), Paper 17 Posted December 14, 2012 WATER COLUMN CONTAMINATION FROM DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN SOUTH BEIRUT, LEBANON
Milad Fakhri ABSTRACT The main functional wastewater treatment plant in Lebanon is suspected to be the major polluter for south Beirut marine areas from a depth of 60 m to the surface. To evaluate the state of the environment of the water column in relation to seasonal stratification, five profiles were executed between 2007 and 2009 at the location of the outfall of the main pipe of discharge. The selected quality parameters were water temperature, salinity, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, chlorophyll-a, pheopigments, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci. The results showed that the seasonal thermocline did not under any circumstances constitute a natural barrier preventing treated water loaded with contaminants to reach the surface of the water. The factors responsible for the upwelling of contaminants through the water column were identified to be the shallow depth, the hydrodynamism of the area, and the flow intensity of discharged waters. Reference: Fakhri, M., M. Abboud-Abi Saab, and G. Khalaf. 2012. Water column contamination from discharge of wastewater treatment plant in South Beirut, Lebanon. Journal of Environmental Hydrology, Vol. 20, Paper 17. CONTACT: Milad Fakhri National Center for Marine Sciences CNRSL Department of Marine Environment P.O. Box 189, Jounieh, Lebanon E-mail: milosman@cnrs.edu.lb |
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