Prior environmental characterization strategies for outfall systems

Abstract

Florianópolis is one of the most important touristic cities in the south region of Brazil. Six Wastewater Treatment Plants handles 50% of city sewage treated and disposal into fragile areas such as small rivers, mangroves and near shore locations into sheltered waters. To improve this situation two outfall systems are being planned. Several aspects must be studied in the planning phase of a sewage project strategy through the construction of new treatment plants and disposal outfall. It always generates controversy with political, technical and social stakeholders. Local oceanographic and environmental knowledge are fundamental for the better understand about the outfall principles and phenomena. This paper presents the strategies used to prior environmental characterization to support location and outfall technologies of two treated wastewater disposal systems. It summaries how a failure history turned to a wide data collection effort to support decision of design systems.

Keywords

• environmental characterization
• outfall
• environmental assessment