- Environics was commissioned to conduct Three Water Analysis Studies for 3 Sites in Benban Solar Park area, namely: ACWA, Alcom, and El Tawakol.
- The studies aimed at determining the potential flash flood hazards, and if needed, identifying adequate protective measures taking into consideration the average lifetime of the Benban Solar Park – 25 years according to the governmental Feed-in Tariff program – and common practice for hydrology risk assessments for infrastructure projects and in construction sector in Egypt.
- Each study comprised the following Analyses:
- The Topographical Analysis using the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the study was a critical input to the Morphological Analysis, undertaken to understand the natural characteristics of drainage basins.
- The Geological Analysis to classify the types of rocks and surface soil as well as faults their distribution, was necessary to estimate the potential of water infiltration in the basins.
- The Meteorological Analysis, including the inventory of available rainfall data to estimate maximum rainfall quantities, recurrence and distribution, is a critical input to estimate the flash flood hazards.
- The Hydrological Analysis, developing hydrographs of the drainage basins that affect the area and calculating maximum flood water flow and expected volumes.
- Finally, Flood Plain Analysis, extracting cross sections from the DEM at the streams intersecting the Park area, and evaluating the hydraulic safety of the cross sections as well as calculating water levels and velocities at these specific intersections.
- Environics carried out site visits to the project sites and reviewed available researches, academic and statistical data, information, maps and satellite images. The three studies were prepared based on the DEM of the project areas, rather than field topographic surveys. They encompassed the following: comprehensive description and analyses of land-use maps around the project areas; main tributaries; morphological characteristics; maximum rainfall depths, flood occurrences, and estimation of floods water levels/depths at intersection of watersheds outlets with the project areas for different return periods. Watershed Modeling System (WMS) was used for comprehensive hydrological analyses.
- Moreover, the studies included: limitations and uncertainties to which the results of the studies were sensitive, as well as conclusions and recommendations for suitable protection measures.
