Environmental Impact Assessment of Agricultural Desalination Plants and Approach Suggestion
Author
PhD of Land Use Planning, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Today, the largest consumer of water in the world is the agricultural sector with about 70% of the total water available; Due to the limited availability of fresh water and on the other hand, the great need for water in agriculture, the use of water desalination plants is unavoidable. This study aims is to investigate the effects of agricultural water desalination plants on the southern coast to provide corrective solutions to reduce the negative impact of water desalination plants on the environment of the study region. In this study, data related to surface and groundwater quality including acidity, salinity and heavy metals such as calcium, arsenic, barium, cadmium, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium and magnesium in the southern coast of the country, including the shores of Bandar Abbas, were collected and compared with the standard of department of the environment. Then, to evaluate the impact of desalination plants on the environment, the Iranian matrix of effects for the physical, biological, economic and social environment, as well as project activities was formed. The results of data analysis showed that some elements related to the discharge of desalination water, such as As, Ba, Cd, Co, Mg, Mo and Se with values of 0.1, 1, 0.01, 0.05, 100, 0.01 and 0.02 mg/liter respectively, are out of standard of the department of environment. Considering the instructions of the Iranian matrix and considering that the average classification in less than 50% of cases in both columns and rows is less than -3/1, corrective measures and the environment mitigation are needed, to continue the standard work of desalination plants. The use of desalination plants have led to surface and underground water pollution due to the discharge of effluents in the area; on the other hand farmers in the study area, are depend on desalination plants due to economic and social issues. Therefore, solutions such as wastewater pre-treatment, refraining from direct discharge of wastewater into the environment, using evaporation ponds and creating a green belt with salt-tolerant plants, to control the wastewater, were presented to compensate and reduce the effects on the area. A continuous monitoring and testing program for the quality of well water and the quality of the effluent from water desalination in terms of acidity, salinity and polluting elements including Ba, Cd, Co, Mg, Mo and Se was suggested.
Keywords
Subjects
Atamaleki, A.; Naimi, N.; Fakhri, Y.; Sharifimaleksari, H.; Nosrati, H. & Fallah, W. 2020. Investigation of heavy metals in mint plants irrigated by wastewater: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Health and Environment, 12(1): 679-694 (In Persian).
Daryabeigizand, A.; Vaezi, A. & Heir, A. 2019. Application of rapid impact assessment matrix and sustainability model in environmental impact assessment and operational optimization of solid waste transfer stations in Tehran. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 12(2): 501-514 (In Persian).
Department of Environment Water quality standard. 2018. Physical and chemical properties, Iran Industrial Standards, Fifth revision. 112 p (In Persian).
Fallah, G.; Esmaili, R. & Shakeri, F. 2016. Assessing the Seasonal Variability of Thermal Stresses during the Last Half Century in Some Climatic Zones of Iran. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 9(2): 233-246 (In Persian).
Ghaffariraad, M. & Ghanbarzadeh, M. 2020. Modeling the effects of hydrological characteristics and design of municipal waste landfill on the leachate rate: a case study of Urmia city. Journal of Health and Environment, 13(1): 263-282 (In Persian).
Gholamalifard, M.; Mirzayi, M.; Hatamimanesh, M.; RiyahiBakhtiari, A. & Sadeghi, M. 2013. Application of rapid impact assessment matrix and Iranian matrix (modified Leopold) in assessing the environmental impacts of solid waste landfill in Shahrekord. Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences 16(4): 31-46 (In Persian).
Gholamdokht, M.; Rezaee, P. & Gholamdokht, Z. 2018. Assessment of the hydrogeochemical quality of underground in the Siahoo region, northeast of Bandar Abbas. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 11(4): 97-110 (In Persian).
Gholizadeh, M. & Zibaei, M. 2021. Hydrochemical assessment of Chehelchai river water, Golestan province for drinking and agricultural purposes. Journal of Health and Environment. 13(2):283-298 (In Persian).
Jihad Organization Annual performance report of Hormozgan Agriculture. 2021. Public Relations Manager, 102 pp (In Persian).
Khamisabadi, A.; Parvanak, K. & Nasrabadi, M. 2019. Effect of the Use Treated Wastewater on Microbial Contamination of Soils of Urban Landscapes. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 7(3): 42-52 (In Persian).
Leopold, L. 1971. A procedure for evaluating environmental impact, Second ed. Academic Press Inc., United States, Washington DC.
Makhdoum M. 1982. Evaluation model for environmental changes. Journal of Environmental Studies, 3(2): 25-34 (In Persian).
Mirzayi, N.; Nuri, J.; Mahvi, A.; Yonesian, M. & Malaki, A. 2010. Assessment of environmental impacts produced by compost plant in Sanandaj. Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, 14(2):79-88 (In Persian).
Sajadi, M.; Kalantari, N. & Mozafarizadeh, J. 2012. Effect of Persian Gulf Saline Water on Quality of Asaluyeh Plain Groundwater and Determine the Origin of Nacl Anomaly. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 5(3): 63-76 (In Persian).
Taati, A.; Salehi, M.; Mohammadi, J. & Mohajer, R. 2020. Assessment of pollution level, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk of heavy metals on human health in surface soils of Arak industrial areas, Iran. Journal of Health and Environment, 13(1):249-252 (In Persian).
Tarnacki, K. 2019. Environmental assessment of desalination processes: Reverseosmosis and Memstill. Journal of Waste Management, 29(1): 69-80.
Valizadeh, S. & Shekari, Z. 2015. Evaluation of Iranian Leopold Matrix application in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of solid waste management options in Birjand city. Journal of Health and Environment. 8(3):249-262.
Zheng, X.; Soumare, M. & Tack, F. 2019. Seawater desalination in China: Retrospect and prospect. Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2(2):404-413.
Atamaleki, A.; Naimi, N.; Fakhri, Y.; Sharifimaleksari, H.; Nosrati, H. & Fallah, W. 2020. Investigation of heavy metals in mint plants irrigated by wastewater: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Health and Environment, 12(1): 679-694 (In Persian).
Daryabeigizand, A.; Vaezi, A. & Heir, A. 2019. Application of rapid impact assessment matrix and sustainability model in environmental impact assessment and operational optimization of solid waste transfer stations in Tehran. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 12(2): 501-514 (In Persian).
Department of Environment Water quality standard. 2018. Physical and chemical properties, Iran Industrial Standards, Fifth revision. 112 p (In Persian).
Fallah, G.; Esmaili, R. & Shakeri, F. 2016. Assessing the Seasonal Variability of Thermal Stresses during the Last Half Century in Some Climatic Zones of Iran. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 9(2): 233-246 (In Persian).
Ghaffariraad, M. & Ghanbarzadeh, M. 2020. Modeling the effects of hydrological characteristics and design of municipal waste landfill on the leachate rate: a case study of Urmia city. Journal of Health and Environment, 13(1): 263-282 (In Persian).
Gholamalifard, M.; Mirzayi, M.; Hatamimanesh, M.; RiyahiBakhtiari, A. & Sadeghi, M. 2013. Application of rapid impact assessment matrix and Iranian matrix (modified Leopold) in assessing the environmental impacts of solid waste landfill in Shahrekord. Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences 16(4): 31-46 (In Persian).
Gholamdokht, M.; Rezaee, P. & Gholamdokht, Z. 2018. Assessment of the hydrogeochemical quality of underground in the Siahoo region, northeast of Bandar Abbas. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 11(4): 97-110 (In Persian).
Gholizadeh, M. & Zibaei, M. 2021. Hydrochemical assessment of Chehelchai river water, Golestan province for drinking and agricultural purposes. Journal of Health and Environment. 13(2):283-298 (In Persian).
Jihad Organization Annual performance report of Hormozgan Agriculture. 2021. Public Relations Manager, 102 pp (In Persian).
Khamisabadi, A.; Parvanak, K. & Nasrabadi, M. 2019. Effect of the Use Treated Wastewater on Microbial Contamination of Soils of Urban Landscapes. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 7(3): 42-52 (In Persian).
Leopold, L. 1971. A procedure for evaluating environmental impact, Second ed. Academic Press Inc., United States, Washington DC.
Makhdoum M. 1982. Evaluation model for environmental changes. Journal of Environmental Studies, 3(2): 25-34 (In Persian).
Mirzayi, N.; Nuri, J.; Mahvi, A.; Yonesian, M. & Malaki, A. 2010. Assessment of environmental impacts produced by compost plant in Sanandaj. Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, 14(2):79-88 (In Persian).
Sajadi, M.; Kalantari, N. & Mozafarizadeh, J. 2012. Effect of Persian Gulf Saline Water on Quality of Asaluyeh Plain Groundwater and Determine the Origin of Nacl Anomaly. Journal of Environmental Health Engineering, 5(3): 63-76 (In Persian).
Taati, A.; Salehi, M.; Mohammadi, J. & Mohajer, R. 2020. Assessment of pollution level, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk of heavy metals on human health in surface soils of Arak industrial areas, Iran. Journal of Health and Environment, 13(1):249-252 (In Persian).
Tarnacki, K. 2019. Environmental assessment of desalination processes: Reverseosmosis and Memstill. Journal of Waste Management, 29(1): 69-80.
Valizadeh, S. & Shekari, Z. 2015. Evaluation of Iranian Leopold Matrix application in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of solid waste management options in Birjand city. Journal of Health and Environment. 8(3):249-262.
Zheng, X.; Soumare, M. & Tack, F. 2019. Seawater desalination in China: Retrospect and prospect. Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2(2):404-413.
