Numerical Modeling of the Effects of Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant on Water Quality of the Great Menderes River, Turkey

Abstract

Although geothermal energy is considered as one of the cleaner forms of energy, discharge of the power plant’s effluent into nearby streams impacts the environment which requires special attention. Motivated by high boron concentrations observed in crops and soils of a river basin located in the south-west of Turkey, this study is investigated the effects of Kizildere Geothermal Power Plant on water quality of the Great Menderes River.
In this study, first the hydrodynamic model was validated with the discharge measurements conducted by Electrical Power Resources Survey and Development Administration (EIEI) and State Hydraulic Works (DSI) in five different stations within the modeled segment of the river. After validation of the hydrodynamics along the river, dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrients (ammonia and nitrate), metals (Li, As, Sb) and boron were modeled by Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP 7.2). Then the results were compared to the water quality measurements conducted within the study area. The effect of the Power Plant was investigated via modeling considering two scenarios: with and without the Power Plant discharges introduced into the model as loading.
The simulation results indicated that boron concentrations were significantly affected during winter, when most of the water is kept to increase the upstream reservoir storage. During the same period, when the flows are low; arsenic, lithium, antimony, dissolved oxygen and ammonia concentrations were also significantly affected by the effluent of the Power Plant.