Noise Pollution
During construction of a hydropowerplant, noise will be generated from vehicular movements, sand and aggregate processing, concrete mixing, excavation machinery, construction activities, and blasting. During the operational period, noise will be generated from the pumps, air compressors, and generators. The main potential impact of high noise levels will be on construction workers and community living nearby the plant. Therefore, assessments are often required to ensure that the proposed noise standard are met to prevent any significant impact on local residents’ exposure and to ensure compliance. Noise level has to be monitored during pre-construction and construction using sound level meter
Air Quality and Meteorological assessment
Ambient air monitoring or meteorological monitoring is sometimes required for certain new major source projects. It is important to collect and analyze of available baseline data for ambient air quality &hydropower plant emissions during pre-construction and construction and review of comparable regional and international air quality standards. Air pollutants of concern include particulate
Particulate matter
PM2.5 and PM10 samples can be collected gravimetrically using High volume air sampler (SIBATA Electric company Limited, Japan) equipped with an impact or size selected inlet (fitted with a PM2.5 and PM10 inlet) with a flow rate of 1000 litter per minute (1000 L /min). PM will be monitored for at least four days at the site to assess the baseline ambient air quality status for Hydropower plant development project.
Lead and other toxic heavy metals
Air sampling onto filters is the starting point for characterization of various chemical components of the collected ambient particles. The advantage of this approach is that analysis of various chemical components can be performed off-line on the same sample. There are generally six main steps that will be involved in studying this association: (i) robust experimental design, (ii) sample collection and preparation, (iii) filter punch into different pieces (iv) chemical analysis (v) statistical analyses and (vi) chemical interpretation
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Nitrogen dioxide is commonly measured using automatic analysers that run 24 hours a day. The main measuring method is to use a chemiluminescence continuous analyzer (chemiluminescence means the emission of light as a result of a chemical reaction) (See Figure 3). Sulphur dioxide is usually measured automatically, by a continuous analyser that uses ultra-violet fluorescence.
-
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Methane
The major pollutant generated by hydroelectric power plant is methane, that has a global warming impact much higher than that of CO2. This methane is generated in the reservoir that is created by building a dam across a flowing water body. However, there are hydropower plants which work without including a dam.
Meteorological parameters
Multi-gas Analyzer equipped with electrochemical sensors willbe used to detect and quantify the amount of Carbon monoxide.
Meteorological parameters play very crucial role in transport and dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere. Therefore, micrometeorology data such as Temperature, relative humidity, pressure with respect to wind speed and direction are required during the study period. Portable meteorological stations will be usedto measure all meteorological parameters.