환경그룹이 기존 플랜트의 개방형 물 유입 파이프가 해양생태계에 해로울 수 있다고 발표한 데 이어 캘리포니아 산타바바라시가 담수화 시설의 해수 유입구조 연구에 200만 달러를 투입할지에 대해 고민하고 있다고 밝혔다.

시의회는 담수화 기업 Carollo Engineers와 함께 34만4천 달러 규모 계약을 체결하는 계획에 대한 권한을 위임받았다. 이 계약은 차표층 유입구조를 해수 역삼투 플랜트에 적용하는 것이 실현가능한지에 대한 것을 조사하는 계약으로, 2단계는 약 70만 달러, 3단계는 1천100만 달러 비용이 소요될 것으로 예상된다.

 

 

 

Californian city, Santa Barbara, may put up to US$ 2 million into a study of a desalination facility seawater intake structure after environmental groups said the existing plant's open water intake pipe could be harmful to marine life.

 

The city council has authorized an initial US$ 344,000 contract with desalination company, Carollo Engineers, to determine whether a subsurface intake structure was feasible for the seawater reverse osmosis plant. The second phase is expected to cost about US$ 700,000 and the third phase, when Carollo is to study specific alternatives for a subsurface intake, is expected to cost US$ 1.1 million, according to the city.

 

Regulatory agencies have made the feasibility study mandatory as part of the city's desalination-related permits. But California Coastal Commission members pointed out that a 1996 permit is still valid so the city can put the facility back into operation with the open water intake structure, even if the studies recommend a subsurface intake

 

Santa Barbara's desalination plant, when active, pumped seawater from an open intake structure, located 600 m offshore, and the waste was mixed with the discharge from El Estero Wastewater Treatment Plant, located 2.9 km offshore.

 

Carollo Engineers, which did preliminary design work for restarting the desalination plant, will also look at potable water reuse during the study process. The work plan will be presented to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board by the end of August.

 

When approving the contract, council member Bendy White said he hoped the city could learn whether there is some kind of "fatal flaw" in a subsurface intake system before big money is invested in pursuing it.

 

[출처 = Desalination & Water Reuse / 2015년 5월 12일]