Evaluation of Trace Element Levels and their Ecotoxicological Relevance in Geothermal Wastewater of Olkaria East Field, Kenya
- Key words
- Olkaria geothermal system, wastewater, trace element constituents, ecotoxicological risk assessment, plants and animals
- Location
- Olkaria, Kenya
- Conference
- World Geothermal Congress
- Year
- 2005
- Session
- 2. Environmental and Societal Aspects
- Language
- English
- Paper number
- 0241
Full text
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Abstract
Olkaria East geothermal field is one of the sectors of the Greater Olkaria geothermal area in the central sector of the Kenya Rift Valley. The field supports the 45 MWe power station. Monitoring of trace elements in the wastewater has been an ongoing process as one of the pollution control measures since 1993. Results indicate that concentration level of most trace elements in wastewater from most wells is low in relation to plant and animal water quality criteria except for As, Mo and B. With the reinjection of the wastewater, which has also been an ongoing reservoir management strategy, any potential ecotoxicological effects that might emanate from elevated levels would be avoided.
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