Assessment of the Impact of the Desalination Plant at the Libyan Iron and Steel Company in Misrata on TDS, EC, and pH Levels in the Surrounding Marine Environment

Abstract

This study evaluates the environmental impact of the seawater desalination plant at the Libyan Iron and Steel Company on Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and pH levels in the surrounding marine environment. Samples were collected from six different locations at varying distances from the plant's brine discharge point, designated as A, B, C, D, E, and F. Location A served as the control intake point, while the remaining locations started at the discharge point and extended at 200-meter intervals up to 800 meters. Ten random samples were collected from each location across different depths and directions. Statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences between the control group and other study sites regarding TDS, EC, and pH, with a significance level of P < 0.001. This indicates a measurable impact of the plant on the standard specifications of the surrounding marine ecosystem. The findings demonstrate that parameters gradually return to normal seawater specifications at a distance of 800 meters from the discharge source.