Environmental Impact Assessment of the Discharge of the Effluent from the Faro Waste Stabilization Ponds into the Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal

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Abstract
This paper intends to present the main problems studied in the environmental impact assessment of the discharge of the tertiary effluent from a stabilisation pond system to be built for the city of Faro (Algarve) into Ria Formosa, a shallow coastal water body of high ecological, economic and touristic value. The environmental assessment emphasized the analysis of the impacts that may affect the shellfish beds as well as the flora and fauna, which are mainly the decrease of salinity, the increase of nutrients content and the entry of pathogens. Despite the impossibility of quantitative assessment, the study concluded that the effects of the variation of salinity and nutrients content will not be very significant. However, the pathogens are likely to contaminate the shellfish bads. Recommendations are presented including construction and operation of a suitable treatment plant, tight sanitary control of the shellfish before human coneumption and monitoring of the future situation.

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