- A tourist resort at Ras Hewala was in the process of increasing the capacity of its existing desalination plant to meet the requirements of further planned expansion of the resort, which will include: hotels, residential units and villas, a golf course, a marina, as services area and workers accommodation . The increase was planned over two phases:
- Small scale expansion of the existing brine discharge pipeline for temporarily meeting the increasing demand;
- Large scale permanent expansion that produces 25,000 m3/day to serve the completely established and functional tourist resort.
- Environics was commissioned to carry out the EIA studies required for the project.
2016
EIA for Increasing the Capacity of Ras Hewala Desalination Plant
- Environics carried out site visits and document reviews to study the baseline environment of the project, thoroughly investigated environmentally viable alternatives of the project phases, explained potential environmental impacts and proposed necessary mitigation measures, and provided an environmental management and monitoring plan for the project.
- Regarding the marine environment, Environics relied on the extensive marine survey and bathymetric map it had carried out in 2016 for the project, as part of the required detailed baseline studies, which also included a terrestrial survey and a wild biological habitat study. Environics also prepared a mathematical modeling study for the brine dispersion in the marine environment.
2017
Scoped EIA for Brine Discharge from Ras Hewala Desalination Treatment Plant
- In view of the need of the plant to withdraw large quantities of water and dispose brine water, two intake pipelines and one brine disposal pipeline were to be constructed.
- Environics prepared a Scoped EIA study for the proposed works to construct and operate the above-mentioned pipelines
- Several alternatives were analyzed regarding the specifications of the proposed new pipelines and discharging method (including path, length, diameter, and whether or not dilute brine discharge), and the best alternative was selected.
- The study was prepared mainly based on the field visit and the extensive marine survey and bathymetric map carried out in 2016 for the project, as well as a mathematical hydrodynamic study and review of the researches and publications in this field. In addition, satellite imagery was used to prepare illustrative maps.
- It encompassed: description of the proposed project, its objectives & components, the relevant environmental laws & legislations, description of the baseline environment in the project area, including: climate, marine characteristics, marine biological environment, and the most important characteristics of the socio-economic environment of the study area. Moreover, it included analysis of alternatives, assessment of potential environmental impacts and proper mitigation measures, as well as the project’s Environmental Management & Monitoring Plan.
Within the framework of the integrated development plan in Ras Hewala Touristic Center (the Mediterranean Coast – West Coast – Marsa Matrouh Governorate), Environics was commissioned to prepare two scoped EIA studies for the establishment of a new touristic hotel & a nursing home.
2017
Two Scoped EIA Studies (Form-B) for the establishment of a touristic hotel & a nursing home
- Environics conducted a literature review and based its baseline data on the data contained in the integrated study of the project carried out in 2011, and then updated some of the data based on the results of its field visit to the project area in 2016.
- Environics prepared the two studies that encompassed: general information about the project, its location, and the baseline conditions (Physical, Biological, and Socio-Economical), as well as description of the different phases, and summary of the relevant environmental laws and regulations.
- Impacts were identified and assessed during construction & operation, specific interactions were analyzed to determine their direct impacts on different receptors, and impacts were divided into positive and negative. The negative impacts were also carefully analyzed, and the suitable mitigation measures were recommended. The Environmental Management & Monitoring plan was developed as well.