OdinS, in collaboration with Ocean Net, a leading company in environmental and oceanographic instruments, has achieved a new milestone in the protection of the marine environment by installing advanced sensors to control discharges in the desalination plants of San Pedro del Pinatar and Alicante. This collaboration, among other benefits, has made it possible to ensure that brine discharges remain within the established parameters so that they do not affect the environment of the adjacent maritime coast.
Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and Discharge Authorizations (DAs) establish environmental protection measures that include the aspects to be monitored, the parameters to be evaluated, and the frequency with which controls must be carried out. This ensures the monitoring of key elements such as salinity, the temperature of the receiving environment, and the good condition of the marine ecosystem.
To comply with environmental regulations for the desalination plants in Alicante and San Pedro del Pinatar, it was necessary to have devices for continuous monitoring of water salinity and temperature, especially near the Posidonia seagrass meadows. This would allow for anticipating the dispersion and effects of brine discharge, following the geographical control points established in the Environmental Assessment Zones (AAVs), as well as collecting data on currents and tides in the affected areas.
The collection of this data, along with the frequency of the controls, forms part of the Environmental Monitoring Programs, which are specific to each desalination plant.
To ensure proper monitoring of these parameters, it was necessary to have automated systems for continuous measurement of conductivity, temperature, and ocean currents. These systems had to be installed at the points designated by the Environmental Assessments (EAs), with structures anchoring them to the seabed. Furthermore, it was essential to have advanced measurement stations to guarantee the constant and accurate collection of the data required by the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and EAs.
This joint effort reinforces OdinS and Ocean Net’s commitment to environmental protection, ensuring efficient and continuous monitoring that guarantees the sustainability of the marine environment at both facilities.
