The application of MOHID to assess the potential effect of sewage discharge system at Bahía Blanca estuary (Argentina).

JORGE PIERINI; FRANCISCO CAMPUZANO; JORGE MARCOVECCHIO; GERARDO PERILLO,

Perspectives on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in South America.

IST Press

Lugar: Lisboa; Año: 2008; p. 511 - 518

Bah´ıa Blanca urban wastewater treatment plant (UWWTP) discharges the wastewater from the city into the Bah´ıa Blanca Estuary through a tidal channel located 4 km south from the closest city, Ingeniero White, and 1.7 km south to the mouth of the Napost´a Creek. Four are the UWWTPs discharging in the Bah´ıa Blanca Estuary, the highest flow corresponds to Bah´ıa Blanca UWWTP with 65000 m3 d−1 corresponding for the 77% of the overall (Heffner et al. 2003). Wastewater is an important source of freshwater in the Bah´ıa Blanca estuary summing 23.3% of the overall freshwater, with contributions of similar magnitude than freshwater inputs Napost´a Grande Creek, 86400 m3 d−1 (Carrica 1998) and Sauce Chico creek, 164000 m3 d−1. Sewerage systems in Bah´ıa Blanca city are designed with overflow structures that discharge into local waterways when the capacity of the system is exceeded. Overflows occur when the hydraulic capacity of the system is exceeded due to heave rains. During dry periods, overflow can also take place due to blockages or pump failures. Aguas Bonaerenses Sociedad An´onima (ABSA) manages the main network. The aim of this research was to analyze the potential risks of sewage in the estuary and the installation new UWWTP over the coast in the inner Bah´ıa Blanca estuary near bathing waters, i.e. Maldonado Municipal pool.