Environmental Monitoring of Thermal Power Plants

These environmental monitoring tasks included collecting samples from different environmental matrices, performing in situ measurements of multiple parameters, analyzing the samples, and data management to interpret the results. This involved comparing current results with historical data to identify trends or changes and preparing reports on the environmental status of the two thermal power plants.

In more detail, the project entailed:

• On-site measurements to determine contaminant concentrations using specialized equipment for real-time assessment, source identification, and environmental impact evaluation.
• Sampling of environmental matrices (e.g., water, sediment) to ensure representativeness and accurate reflection of contaminant levels.
• Laboratory analysis of samples to quantify contaminant concentrations using analytical methods and instruments.
• Calculations, historical data analysis, and monthly reporting of measurement and analysis results. Includes data interpretation, trend comparison with historical data, and environmental status reporting.

These plants are subject to stringent environmental regulations to minimize their impact on local ecosystems. This includes comprehensive monitoring of effluents, receiving waters, sediments, marine organisms, and specific habitats like the Cymodocea Nodosa Meadow, along with regular inspections of submarine outfalls. These measures ensure compliance with environmental legal standards and protect the surrounding marine and coastal ecosystems.

The challenge of this environmental monitoring work was to complete all the sampling schedules over several years, considering the variability in meteorological conditions, the large number of samples, and the results we managed throughout the project.

As a result of our environmental monitoring and assessment work, we delivered several reports on the plant's impact to the client, which allowed them to better understand how their activities affected the environment and develop strategies to mitigate these effects.