A 3D hydrodynamic model to assess the environmental impact of urban and industrial discharges in Qatar

Details

Supervisors

Hanert, Emmanuel ; Dobbelaere, Thomas

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil mécanicien, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enQatar's rapid coastal development and industrialization have raised growing concerns about the environmental impact of pollutant discharge in the marine ecosystems. In particular, desalination plants, power generation facilities, and stormwater runoff represent major sources of pollution. This thesis aims to assess the environmental impact of these discharges along the coast of Qatar. First, a 3D hydrodynamic model (SLIM3D) is used to simulate current circulation, salinity, and temperature in the Gulf. An Eulerian transport model is then applied to analyze the behavior of various pollutants, including brine, thermal discharge, fecal coliforms (FC), and total suspended solids (TSS). Results show that pollutant dispersion is strongly influenced by the outfall location, with local bathymetry and exposure to current circulation being the most critical factors. Deeper waters and stronger currents enhance dispersion, while shallow and enclosed areas lead to localized accumulation. The density and size of pollutants also play a key role in settling dynamics, which in turn affects the extent of the impacted area. In Doha Bay, an environmental risk assessment reveals that the stormwater discharge primarily affects the vicinity of the outfalls, with negligible risk observed across the rest of the bay. Overall, this study can provide valuable insights into the environmental risks associated with coastal discharge and highlights the importance of outfall location to reduce the ecological impact of the discharge.