Kumar, Subramaniam and Patil, 2000

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WATER QUALITY MODELING OF MUNICIPAL DISCHARGES FROM

SEA OUTFALLS, MUMBAI

RAKESH KUMAR, JAYSHREE SUBRAMANIAM and DHANYAKUMAR PATIL


Scientists, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, 89/B, Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai - 400 018, India

(Received 28 May 1998; accepted 27 February 1999)

Abstract. The island city of Mumbai with a population of about 10 million generates about 2000
million liters per day (mld) of sewage from the seven service areas of the city sewerage network
and discharges it into the adjoining west coast and the two creeks in the Arabian Sea. This has
resulted in degradation of coastal water quality, contamination of the adjoining beaches and seafronts.
The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has therefore, undertaken the task of delineating
appropriate sewage disposal system to achieve cleaner marine ecosystem through marine outfalls at
specific locations. This paper presents the results of the mathematical simulations on the impacts
of discharge is-a-vis the length of the outfall and level of land treatment apriori. The results of the
simulation indicate the level of bacterial pollution to be higher near the diffuser locations as compared
to nearshore regions. 48 h simulation result analysis shows that FC counts near the diffuser location
will be in the range of 2000–8000 counts per 100 ml.

Keywords: mathematical simulations, Mumbai, sea outfalls

1. Introduction

The sewerage system in Mumbai has been divided into seven service areas and
serves a population of about 10 million (Figure 1). The sewage from these service
areas is discharged into the open west coast and the adjoining creeks with only
preliminary treatment thereby affecting the water quality of receiving water body.
Of the seven service areas, five discharge the sewage from their respective areas
into the west coast and this constitutes about 70 percent of the total sewage dis-
charged. The present wastewater discharges on the west coast have created many
critical areas where water quality is severely impaired in terms of physicochemical
and bacterial indicators (NEERI, 1994). The rapid economic growth and popula-
tion increase in Mumbai projected for the year 2015 AD and the sewage flow is
anticipated to almost double.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 62: 119–132, 2000.


© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
120 R. KUMAR ET AL.

This paper presents the results of mathematical simulation on the impacts of the
sewage discharges on water quality for the various management options.

2. Current Water Quality Status of Mumbai West Coast

The assimilative capacity of the sea is high enough to have considerable dilution ef-
fects on parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxy-
gen (DO), nutrients and other physicochemical parameters. The microbial para-
meter particularly Fecal Coliforms (FC) concentration remains the best pollution
indicator for coastal waters.
The DO and bacterial (FC) profiles in the 24 km long west coast are presented
in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. The DO levels show that about 5 km length of sea
on the west coast is highly polluted, mainly the regions such as Malad and Mahim,
which receive about 50% of the wastewater discharge from the city. The other 8 km
stretch of the coast shows moderate depletion of the DO. Other parameters such as
BOD and nutrients are low in most of the regions, whereas bacterial contamination
in the west coast of Mumbai is high with FC levels ranging from 103 –104 counts
per 100 ml. Only about 25% of the west coast have fecal coliform counts below
500 per 100 ml.
If this sewage is continued to be discharged without treatment, the coastal water
quality will be adversely affected, as there will be severe stress on the assimilative
capacity of the receiving water body. The development of wastewater management
scenario for Mumbai warrants consideration of the natural sink in the ocean. The
feasibility of using this requires optimal design of wastewater treatment and dis-
posal so that the natural assimilative capacity of the ocean is not depleted and there
are no significant impacts on the flora and fauna of west coast.
The Municipal Corporation of Mumbai has undertaken the task of management
of these discharges. Under the plan, 3 km long marine outfalls are planned to be
constructed at Worli, Bandra, Malad and Versova for discharge of post treated
sewage. Various options involving the level of land treatment and length of outfalls
in increments of 1 km upto 8 kms were explored. The options of land treatment
were mainly primary and secondary.

3. Mathematical Models

To assist the hydro environmental impact assessment, it is often necessary to sim-


ulate flow patterns and monitor pollutant transport processes. This is often carried
out by use of computational hydrodynamic and solute transport models. There are
certain limitations in using these models which include the accuracy of predicting
turbulence and sediment transport interactions, chemical and biological processes
relating to water quality parameters and the numerical difficulty in treating high
WATER QUALITY MODELING OF MUNICIPAL DISCHARGES 121

Figure 1. Modeling Domain and Seven Service Areas of Mumbai.


122 R. KUMAR ET AL.

Figure 2. Present DO levels at Mumbai West Coast.


WATER QUALITY MODELING OF MUNICIPAL DISCHARGES 123

Figure 3. Present Microbial Quality at Mumbai West Coast.


124 R. KUMAR ET AL.

solute concentration gradients or discontinuities based upon discrete solutions. In


spite of these disadvantages, numerical models have been increasingly used for
hydro-environmental assessment studies in the light of increasing computer speed
and capacity and development of more sophisticated computational techniques.
Numerical models can simulate flow and pollutants transport processes at the
prototype scale without distortion and are generally more economical, flexible,
transportable and adaptable than physical models (Chen and Falconer, 1992).

3.1. G OVERNING EQUATIONS FOR HYDRODYNAMIC PROCESSES

Numerical modeling of fluid flow is based on the principles of continuity of mass


and conservation of momentum within the body of the fluid to be modeled. In
many cases, the flow is defined by the Reynolds equation (Reynolds, 1874), which
describe the three dimensional turbulent motion of the fluid. For flows, which show
little variation in the vertical mixing it is acceptable to integrate these equations
over the depth of water, resulting in simplified or two-dimensional equations of
motion. Such models are valid when the flow is predominantly horizontal with
good vertical mixing or the vertical variations in flow are insignificant. These con-
ditions are often met for flows within nonstratified estuaries and coastal waters,
where the water depth is small in comparison with the horizontal model domain.
When integrated over depth, the equations governing fluid motion are:

Conservation of mass:

∂η/∂t + ∂p/∂x + ∂q/∂y = qm (1)

Conservation of momentum:

∂p/∂t + ∂βpU/∂x + ∂βpV/∂y = f q – gH· ∂η/∂x + ρa /ρ·Cw Wx

q p
W2x + W2y – gp p2 + q2 / H2 C2 + ε[2·∂ 2 p/∂x2 + ∂ 2 p/∂y2 + ∂ 2 q/∂x∂y] (2)

∂q/∂t + ∂βqU/∂x + ∂βqV/∂y = –f p – gH·∂η/∂y + ρa /ρ·Cw Wy

q p
W2x + W2y – gq p2 + q2 /H2 C2 + ε[2·∂ 2 q/∂x2 + ∂ 2 q/∂y2 + ∂ 2 p/∂x∂y] (3)
WATER QUALITY MODELING OF MUNICIPAL DISCHARGES 125

where:

p (=UH), q (=VH) Discharge per unit width in x and y directions respectively


(m3 /s/m);
qm Source discharge per unit horizontal area (m3 /s/m2 );
U,V Depth average velocity components in x and y directions
(m/s);
β Momentum correction factor for a non-uniform
vertical velocity profile;
f Coriolis parameters due to the Earth’s rotation (=2ω Sin ,
with ω =angular rotation speed of the Earth and = geo-
graphical angle of latitude; ω =2 π /(24 × 3600) =7.27 ×
105 radians/s);
g gravitational acceleration (=9.806 m/s2 );
H Total water depth = η + h;
η Water surface elevation above datum;
h Water depth below datum;
ρa density of air (∼
= 1.292kg/m3 );
ρ density of fluid (kg/ m3 );
C Chezy roughness coefficient (m1/2 /s);
Cw Air /fluid resistance coefficient assumed to be 2.6x 10−3 ;
Ekman (1905)
 Depth averaged turbulent eddy viscosity (m2 /s);
x, y Coordinates (m)
Wx , Wy Wind velocity in x and y directions

3.2. G OVERNING EQUATIONS FOR TRANSPORT PROCESSES

When a cloud of dissolved or suspended material is released into a receiving water,


the cloud will propagate, dilute and spread as it moves with the flow due to the
effects of advective, diffusive and dispersive transport processes. The advection
refers to the transport of the material by an imposed current system, such as that
due to a tide in estuarine and coastal waters. The diffusion includes the scattering
of particles by molecular and turbulent motion. The dispersion, as distinct from
diffusion, is the dilution process associated with the stretching out and distortion
of a cloud of solute in a non-uniform flow by the effect of velocity shear and
consequential averaging of the flow distribution over the depth for two-dimensional
models (Smith, 1992).
126 R. KUMAR ET AL.

Figure 4. Fecal Coliform Counts at 3 km Worli and Bandra Outfalls (Spring tide, Primary Treatment,
Minimum Initial Dilution) at 31 h.

For a horizontal or quasi horizontal flow, the three dimensional solute mass
balance equation can be integrated over the water depth to give the two dimensional
depth advective diffusion equation as follows (Adams, 1987).

∂HS/∂t + ∂HUS/∂x + ∂HVS/∂y = ∂/∂x [Dxx H· ∂S/∂x + Dxy H· ∂S/∂y]

+ ∂/∂y [Dyx H· ∂S/∂x + Dyy H· ∂S/∂y] + 8s (4)

where:
S = depth averaged solute concentration (unit/volume) or temperature (◦ C)
Dxx , Dxy , Dyx , Dyy = depth averaged dispersion-diffusion coefficients in the x and y
directions respectively (m2 /s), which were shown to be of the form (Preston, 1985;
Holly and Usseglio-Polatera, 1984);
√ p
Dxx = (kl p2 + kt q2 ) g / C p2 + q2 (5)
√ p
Dxy = Dyx = (kl – kt ) pq g/C p2 + q2
√ p
Dyy = (kL · q2 + kt p2 ) g/C p2 + q2 (6)
WATER QUALITY MODELING OF MUNICIPAL DISCHARGES 127

Figure 5. Fecal Coliform Counts at 3 km Worli and Bandra Outfalls (Spring tide, Primary Treatment,
Maximum Initial Dilution) at 31 h.

in which kl and kt are the depth averaged longitudinal dispersion and lateral turbu-
lent diffusion coefficients respectively, and have values of 5.93 for kl and 0.23 for
kt . 8s = a function which may be used to represent sources, sink and decay terms,
including contributions from outfalls, cooling water intakes or outlets, etc.

4. Modeling Domain

The area modeled extends over a region covering upto 15 km into the sea from
Mumbai coast and 35 km along the west coast, 10 km north of Bandra and south
of Worli, the site of the headwork’s of the outfalls. As shown in Figure 1 the study
region is bound by latitude 18◦ 560 on south, 19◦ 160 300 on north and longitude
720 390 on west and by Mumbai coast on the east. The study area was divided into
three major zones, Outer, Middle and Inner each covering an area of 35 × 5 km
with a grid resolution of 100 × 100 m.
128 R. KUMAR ET AL.

Figure 6. Fecal Coliform Counts at 3 km Worli and Bandra Outfalls (Neap tide, Primary Treatment,
Minimum Initial Dilution) at 31 h.

5. Model Inputs

The finite difference method has been used to solve the governing differential
equations previously given for the hydrodynamic and solute transport processes.
A regular computational mesh needs to be set up, which consists of a series of grid
cells and covers the modeling areas.
The modeling warranted in-depth data collection of bathymetry, ocean surface
currents, depth current profile, tidal elevations and meteorology. Measurements of
tidal elevations were made by automated tide gauges at the north and south bound-
aries of the domain. Instruments were located at strategic locations for current
measurements. A die-off rate of T90 = 4 hs (Time taken for 90 percent die-off) was
taken. The rate of discharge of sewage through the outfall after the land treatment,
length of outfall considered for simulation and the level of land treatment provided
are presented in Table I. The sewage sample analysis at the pumping stations of all
the service areas on an average show a FC concentration of 9 × 107 per 100 ml.
For primary level treatment this initial population was observed to be almost same
excepting the difference in absolute number and for secondary treatment this initial
population was lower by a magnitude of two. Accounting was also made for initial
dilution effects. The maximum and minimum initial dilutions that were considered
WATER QUALITY MODELING OF MUNICIPAL DISCHARGES 129

Figure 7. Fecal Coliform Counts at 5 km Worli and Bandra Outfalls (Spring tide, Primary Treatment,
Minimum Initial Dilution) at 31 h.

for Worli outfall was 380 and 200 and that for Bandra outfall was 280 and 150.
These dilutions were based on the wastewater discharge and the prevalent ambient
current.

6. Simulation results

The lengths of the outfalls have been varied from 3 km to 8 km ith combination
of primary and secondary treatment. In this paper Worli and Bandra outfalls and
respective land treatment options has been discussed. The simulations were carried
out for 48 h. The simulation was done for the different tidal conditions of spring
and neap. Figures 4 and 5 present the model results for primary treatment with
minimum and maximum dilutions. These figures indicate that for Worli a waste
field patch of 1.4 kms × 0.8 km of FC concentration above 200/100 ml is at a
distance of 1.2 km from shore and the same patch increases to 1.6 kms × 1.7 km at
a distance of 1.2 km from shore when the minimum initial dilution value has been
taken. The dilution effect does not change the waste field size of higher concentra-
tion to a significant level. As is evident from the above figures, during maximum
130 R. KUMAR ET AL.

Figure 8. Fecal Coliform Counts at 3, 5 and 8 km Worli and Bandra Outfalls (Spring tide, Primary
Treatment, Minimum Initial Dilution) at 31 h.

TABLE I
Scenarios considered for simulation

Stations Outfall Discharge (mld) Discharge (m3/s) Treatment


Length (kms.)

Worli
3,4,5,6,7,8 727.5 8.42 Primary
3,4,5,6,7,8 727.5 8.42 Secondary
3,4,5,6,7,8 727.5 8.42 Primary
3,4,5,6,7,8 727.5 8.42 Secondary
Bandra
3,4,5,6,7,8 1246 14.42 Primary
3,4,5,6,7,8 1246 14.42 Secondary
3,4,5,6,7,8 1246 14.42 Primary
3,4,5,6,7,8 1246 14.42 Secondary
WATER QUALITY MODELING OF MUNICIPAL DISCHARGES 131

dilution overall patch size of FC waste field reduces. However, the middle portion
of the patch with highest FC counts does not reduce significantly.
The results of these two outfalls indicate that the bacterial waste-field move-
ment and the size and its distance from the shore vary with spring and neap tidal
conditions for primary treatment. The difference between the spring and neap tide
is mainly witnessed in terms of size of the waste field. The neap tide waste field
is generally smaller in size as seen in Figure 6 compared to that of the spring tide
options. As the length of the outfall is increased to 5 km with primary treatment, the
waste field does not change in size to a significant level as is evident from Figures
7. The major change in the size of the waste field and concentration is witnessed
only when the secondary treatment is provided.
The model results presented for Bandra with primary treatment indicate that a
patch of 1.8 km × 1.0 km of FC concentration above 200/100 ml is found at a
distance of 1.2 km from shore for maximum dilution which increases to 2.0 km
× 1.2 kms in size at a distance of 1.6 km from shore when the minimum initial
dilution values is taken for simulation.
A considerable decrease in the patch size takes place when the outfall length
changes from 5 to 8 km as is evident from the Figure 8. This change could be
attributed to the larger water column available due to major shift in the depth profile
after 5 km leading to higher dilution and dispersion. The figure also indicates that
the decrease in FC patch size is significant for the secondary treatment options.
A secondary treatment scheme implementation at Bandra with 3 km outfall and
minimum dilution would uniformly give FC concentration of less than 50/100 ml
similar to Worli.
The change in the outfall length with 1 km increment leads to waste-field loc-
ation shifting further away from the shore as presented in Figure 8 for primary
treatment and 3, 5 and 8 km long outfalls.

7. Conclusion

The neap and spring tide results show a difference of the spread of the wastefield.
The wastefield size for the neap is smaller than spring tide. With increase in the
length of the outfalls, the waste field patch shifts further away from the shore by
difference about the increment by which the length of the outfall increases. The
patch size reduces with increase in outfall length. Secondary treatment results in
major reduction in the bacterial concentration by about two order of magnitude.
Even with the combination of secondary treatment and 3 km length outfall the
above is achieved.
132 R. KUMAR ET AL.

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