Design team members: Arthur Kong - systems design engineering, Erin Jones - environmental - civil engineering, Kimberley Thomas - environmental-civil Engineering
Supervisor: Professor Donald H. Burn, P.Eng., Department of civil and environmental Engineering
Background
An existing ski resort located in Oukaimeden, Morocco, has been suffering declining attendance in recent years and is operating at a loss. The Moroccan government would like to improve the current facilities and develop the area as a world class tourist resort, complementing Morocco's growth toward becoming a significant tourist destination.
However, countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa region, including Morocco, are currently experiencing a water shortage crisis. With limited water supply in the region, the planned expansion would put a tremendous amount of stress on the present basic infrastructure and natural resources. With the constraints and limitations presented, EKA Aqua Designs is designing for a comprehensive water supply system for the site to meet the requirements.
Proposed expansion (source of photo)
Project description
The goal of the project is to design a water supply plan to ensure the water needs of the proposed ski resort development and village are met with minimal impact on the environment and downstream villages.
The main objectives of the design are to
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quantify existing water supply
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determine water requirements for proposed development;
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develop strategy to meet water needs and reduce demands;
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mitigate flash flooding and potential impacts to environment and
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develop concepts for wastewater treatment plant improvements
Design methodology
Oukaimeden valley and reservoir facing downstream
(source of photo)
As a first step to meet our design objectives a preliminary design and an environmental assessment was carried out. The environment assessment consists of an extensive background review of existing conditions in the Oukaimeden area, which included existing infrastructure, social and environmental conditions, hydrologic conditions, and existing water and wastewater treatment conditions and regulations. Based on these existing conditions and projected population and infrastructure increases, estimates of potable water and snowmaking water demands were made for pre and post expansion. A preliminary water budget was then formulated with the existing water supply and demand values using hydrologic theory. Alternatives for demand reduction, wastewater treatment level and effluent end use, and reservoir configurations were then explored and evaluated using decision making matrices. A preferred alternative was determined.
As the next step to fulfil the design objectives, a detailed design phase will be carried out to finalize the design of the water supply system in the proposed resort. For example, the detailed design would include a more in-depth analysis into seasonal supply of water, optimization of supply distribution and conservation measures, and detailed reservoir design. The appropriate reservoir sizing to meet needs based on available water supply must be determined and reservoir design may also include the use of wind breaks and vegetation to reduce evaporation and the use of liners to prevent water loss to infiltration.