The expansion of the Panama Canal is adding another lock lane to the canal, allowing passage of larger ships. Increases in the number of transits and the size of the locks may displace more salt from the oceans into the freshwater lake, Gatun Lake, which is a drinking water source for Panama City. This project evaluated future salinity levels in Gatun Lake. Water quality and hydrometeorological data were input into a predictive hydrodynamic software package to project salinity levels in the lake after the new lock system is completed. Modeling results showed that salinity levels are expected to remain in the freshwater range. In the event that the lake becomes brackish, the team designed a water treatment plant using electrodialysis reversal for salt removal and UV light disinfection.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Fouraux, Cristina C
• Akhmetova, Assel Baurzhanovna
• Muniz, Edwin

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-031112-224754

Advisor

• Plummer, Jeanine D.

Year

• 2012

Center

• Panama City, Panama Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• Panama Canal Authority

Date created

• 2012-03-11

Localização

• Panama City

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright