MARINE OUTFALLS
The Forgotten Assets
Martin Berry details the need for development, maintenance and replacement programmes with these forgotten assets.
W
e see them along estuaries and at the coast; in harbour walls and even on beaches. In fact they are so familiar as to have become almost invisible, but outfalls, especially marine outfalls, serve an important purpose with which comes significant responsibilities.
MARINE OUTFALLS
A marine outfall’s purpose is described as: ‘a pipeline, tunnel or structure that discharges a wastewater to the marine environment to utilise the assimilative capacity for further PROFESSIONAL DIVER • SPRING 2020
treatment’. Outfalls are often associated with water companies, industrial and power facilities and, while they might be quite lengthy, most of the pipes are usually buried so that we are only aware of the physical length of pipe that protrudes into the open and above MHWS (Mean High Water Springs).
“A marine outfall’s purpose is described as: ‘a pipeline, tunnel or structure that discharges a wastewater to the marine environment to utilise the assimilative capacity for further treatment’.” 5
