QUARTERLY REPORT

01

INTRODUCTION

01Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi publishes this quarterly Marine Water Quality (MWQ) report to present the MWQ status during the previous three months based on the results of MWQ monitoring along the Abu Dhabi Emirate coast. The MWQ monitoring stations are distributed throughout the territorial waters of the Emirate. This report summarizes data on six MWQ parameters (eutrophic and microbial) for which thresholds have been recommendedto protect marine biota and human health.

Each quarterly report present MWQ data for that quarter period,in addition, the 2nd and 4th quarter reports include Marine Water Quality Index (MWQI), which provides decision makers and the public with meaningful summaries of overall water quality status at different sites.A WQI is calculated for the following eutrophic parameters (Eutrophication Index): Dissolved Oxygen (DO); Chlorophyll-a;Nitrate; Ammonia; Phosphate; and for the following bacterial parameters (Microbial Index): Enterococci and Fecal Coliforms (FC).

Eutrophic parameters are nutrients which result largely fromhuman activities. High levels of nutrients in marine water can result in enhanced growth of aquatic plants, especially phytoplankton (micro algae). As a result, phytoplankton populations increase rapidly and the excess, unconsumed plant material can cause problems such as diminished water clarity and DO depletionin waters. Severe eutrophic conditions may also contributeto the formation of harmful algal blooms (HABs), which may include toxic species that can cause foul odours, skin rashes from water contact, fish kills, and shellfish poisoning,and can disrupt the normal operation of desalinationplants by blocking their seawater filtration systems.

Increasing eutrophication and higher frequencies ofharmful algal blooms have been observed in Abu Dhabiwaters in recent years. This quarterly report presents data on the eutrophic parameters: DO, Chlorophyll-a, Nitrate, Ammonia, and Phosphate. EAD has beenand will continue to be alert to microbial levels in order to control public health risks from recreational exposure to marine water. This report presents data on enterococci – the best indicator of sewage contamination of marine water.

02

DISSOLVEDOXYGEN (DO)

During the first quarter of 2015,dissolved oxygen concentrationsmet the minimum recommended threshold level (>4 mg/L) at all 19 out of 20 stations.

There is no bottom water data available for stations 5 and 6 because these are point sources.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) CONCENTARTIONS (mg/L)IN ABU DHABI EMIRATE WATER

mg/L

MARINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING STATIONS

0.0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

5.15.1

4.94.9

4.94.9

4.94.9

4.54.5

4.84.84.84.8

5.15.05.25.15.05.04.74.8

5.5

3.5

4.74.8

5.58.28.2

6.66.7

5.5

5.05.05.05.0

5.15.1

Jila AsKhasifah

As SileaJebel Al Dhanna

Ruwais

GhyathyBida' Al Mutawwa

Sir BaniYas

Shuwehat

Dalma

Mubarraz

Marawwah Abu Al Abyad

Mirfa

Samha

Al Wathba

Tarif

Habshan

Al Yasat

Arzanah

Abu Dhabi

Shahama

Bani Yas

12

19

18

1716

15

14

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)< 4 ≤

Bu Tinah

20

11

98

107

5 413

63

2

03

CHLOROPHYLL-A

µg/L0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

23.4

19.8

MARINE WATER QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS

CHLOROPHYLL-A CONCENTRATIONS (µg/L) IN ABU DHABI EMIRATE WATER

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20 0.50.9

0.7

0.50.5

0.7

0.40.7

0.20.6

0.60.7

1.01.2

0.70.7

1.22.4

2.12.1

1.21.8

0.91.2

1.21.9

2.4

2.6

3.35.6

5.915.3

3.3

22.5

0.6

0.7

During the first quarter of 2015, chlorophyll-a concentrations exceededthe recommended threshold level (0.7 μg/L) at 18 out of 20 (90%)

Chlorophyll-a levels at Mussafah South Channel (Station-2), Al Salamiyah Channel (Station-1) and Mussafah Industrial area (station-3) were particularly high.

High chlorophyll-a levels indicate a risk for harmful algal blooms, and are thus a cause of concern for the Emirate.

Jila AsKhasifah

As SileaJebel Al Dhanna

Ruwais

GhyathyBida' Al Mutawwa

Sir BaniYas

Shuwehat

Dalma

Mubarraz

Marawwah Abu AlAbyad

Mirfa

Samha

Al Wathba

Tarif

Habshan

Al Yasat

Arzanah

Abu Dhabi

Shahama

Bani Yas

12

18

19

1716

15

14

Chlorophyll-a (µg/L)< 0.7 ≤

Bu Tinah

810

20

11

134

3

2

9

04

NITRATE-N

220

NITRATE-N CONCENTARTIONS (µg/L) IN ABU DHABI EMIRATE WATER

MARINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING STATIONS

620

21453

313

473

9193

3197

250

237

100

280

207

90

203

180

50

90

50

50

90

133

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000µg/L

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

19

20

18

During the first quarter of 2015,nitrate concentrations exceeded the recommended threshold level (220 μg/L)at 9 out of 20 stations (45%).

Nitrate levels at Mussafah South Channel (Station-2), Eastern Corniche (Station-5), and Near Shangrila Hotel Channel (Station-6) were particularly high.

High nitrate concentrations are indicativeof a significant marine water quality issue for the Emirate.

20

11

985 47

13

63

2

Dalma

Al Yasat

Sir BaniYas

Mubarraz

Marawwah

Mirfa Tarif

Abu AlAbyad Al Wathba

Bani Yas

Shahama

Samha

ABU DHABIShuwehat

Jebel Al Dhanna

Ruwais

Ghyathy Habshan

As Silea Jila As

18

16

15

17

14

12

19

Abu Dhabi

Nitrate-N (µg/L)< 220 ≤

BuTinah

AMMONIA-NDuring the first quarter of 2015,ammonia concentrations exceededthe recommended threshold level (90 μg/L) at 4 out of 20 stations (20%).

Ammonia levels at Eastern Corniche (Station-5), Emirates Palace Beach (Station-8), Mussafah South Channel (Station-2), and Mangrove Area - Eastern Corniche (Station-4) were particularly high.

High ammonia levels are indicativeof a significant marine water qualityissue for the Emirate.

µg/L

AMMONIA-N CONCENTARTIONS (µg/L) IN ABU DHABI EMIRATE WATER

MARINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING STATIONS

37

117

37

107

180

80

47

127

27

40

47

60

27

10

40

20

60

40

80

20

0 50 100 150 20090

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

19

20

18

20

11

985 47

13

63

2

Ghyathy Habshan

Dalma

Al Yasat

Sir BaniYas

Mubarraz

Marawwah

MirfaTarif

Abu AlAbyad Al Wathba

Samha

ABU DHABIShuwehat

As Silea Jila As

18

12

15

1716

19

14

Bani Yas

Shahama

Abu Dhabi

Ammonia-N (µg/L)< 90 ≤

Bu Tinah

05

06

PHOSPHATE-P

During the first quarter of 2015,phosphate concentrations exceededthe recommended threshold level (150 μg/L) at 15 out of 20 stations (75%).

Phosphate levels at Mussafah South Channel (Station-2) and Taweela (Station-14)were particularly high.

High phosphate levels are indicative ofa significant marine water quality issuefor the Emirate.

PHOSPHATE-P CONCENTARTIONS (µg/L) IN ABU DHABI EMIRATE WATER

MARINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING STATIONS

420

2887

510

357

503

207

103

180

203

120

173

150

277

550

210

60

210

280

120

133

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000µg/L

150

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

19

20

18

20

11

985 47

13

63

2

Jebel Al Dhanna

Ruwais

Dalma

Al Yasat

Sir BaniYas

Mubarraz

Marawwah

Mirfa Tarif

Abu AlAbyad

Shuwehat

As SileaJila As

Khasifah

Samha

Al Wathba

18

12

15

1716

19

14

Abu Dhabi

Bani Yas

Shahama

Phosphate-P (µg/L)< 150 ≤

Bu Tinah

During the first quarter of 2015, enterococci concentrations exceeded the recommended threshold level (280 MPN/100ml) at 1 out of 20 stations (5%).

Enterococci concentrations at the Eastern Corniche point source (Station-5)were particularly high.

Enterococci are a bacterial indicator of sewage contamination. High enterococci levels are indicative of a significant publichealth issue for the Emirate.

ENTEROCOCCIENTEROCOCCI LEVEL (MPN/100ML) IN ABU DHABI EMIRATE WATER

MARINE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING STATIONS

7

7

ND

7

868

7

13

ND

ND

ND

7

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

ND

0 200 400 600 800 1000

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

MPN/100ml280

20

11

985 47

13

63

2

Habshan

Dalma

Al Yasat

Sir BaniYas

Mubarraz

Marawwah

MirfaKhasifahTarif

Abu AlAbyadAl Wathba

Samha

Shuwehat

As SileaJebel Al Dhanna

Ruwais

Ghyathy

Jila As

18

12

15

1716

19

14

Bani Yas

Shahama

Abu Dhabi

Enterococci (MPN/100mL)< 280 ≤

Bu Tinah

07

During first quarter of 2015, seven algal blooms were recorded in Abu Dhabi waters. Most of the blooms were created by Oscillatoria, Prorocentrum triestinum and Prorocentrum minimum.

Furthermore, Eastern Corniche (near Station 4) recorded Peridinium quinquecorne, which depletes the oxygen concentrationin the marine environment. However, no casualties(e.g., fish kills) were recorded in the Emirate during this time.

EMERGENCY INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

Habshan

Dalma

Al Yasat Sufla

Al Yasat UlyaUm Al Hatab

Sir BaniYas

GhashaAsh

Mubarraz

Marawwah

MirfaKhasifahTarif

Abu AlAbyad

Shahama

Samha

Abu DhabiAr Rafeq

Abu As Sayayif

Bu Kisheshah Al Ghuzlan

Bu Ash Shuum

Al Fitesi Bani YasUm An Aar

Balghelam

Shuwehat

DiqalahAl Hamar

Marawwah

Jebel Al Dhanna

Ruwais

GhyathyBida' Al Mutawwa

Jila As Saghirah

Al Wathba

Halat Al Bahrani

Al Hil

23

4

ALGAL BLOOM INCIDENTS IN ABU DHABI

1

06/Jan/2015

24°26'47.23"N54°26'27.90"E

24°26'47.23"N 54°26'27.90"E

24°26'47.23"N 54°26'27.90"E

24018’54.4"N 054030’20.4"E

24018’54.4"N 054030’20.4"E

24°26'47.23"N 54°26'27.90"E

054030’20.4"E24018’54.4"N 5km

2 29/Jan/2015

Mussafah Industrial Area (stn -3)

15km

3

29/Jan/2015

5km

4

03/Feb/2015

10km

5 09/Feb/2015

5km

6

02/Mar/2015

5km

7

29/Mar/2015

Eastern Corniche

Eastern Corniche(stn -4)

5km

Mussafah SouthChannel(stn -2)

Prorocentrum triestinum,Prorocentrum minimumand Oscillatoria sp

Heterocapsa triquetraand Prorocentrum triestinum

Oscillatoria spand Heterocapsa triquetra

Multispecies dominated by Oscillatoria sp and Prorocentrum triestinum,P. minimum

Multispecies dominated by Oscillatoria sp

Multispecies dominated by Oscillatoria sp

Peridinium quinquecorne

Mussafah SouthChannel

Mussafah SouthChannel

Mussafah Industrial Areal

NO DATE LOCATION GPS LOCATION BLOOM TYPEAREACOVERED

09

In the first quarter of 2015,MWQ data indicated the following:

•Dissolved oxygen levels in bottom waters are meetingthe minimum threshold at all stations (100% compliance).

•90% of stations exceeded the threshold value for chlorophyll-a.

•45% of stations exceeded the threshold value for nitrate.

•20% of stations exceeded the threshold value for ammonia.

•75% of stations exceeded the threshold value for phosphate.

•5% of stations exceeded the threshold value for enterococci.

•Mussafah South Channel (Station-2) exceeded the thresholdsfor all eutrophic parameters except for dissolved oxygen, including chlorophyll-a, nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate. The concentrations of these parameters at this station were exceptionally high.

•The Eastern Corniche point source (Station 5) showsthere are very high levels of enterococci entering the waters,which can pose a threat to public health at recreationalareas near and downstream from this station.

The marine environment is an important economic and cultural component of Abu Dhabi. Thus, monitoring marine water qualityis vital to the continuation and sustainability of the Emirate’s fisheries, other marine biota and recreational uses.

Fish kills, algal blooms and human health issues can all arisefrom elevated concentrations, or depressed concentrations,of certain pollutants and water quality parameters. Therefore,the ongoing and long-term monitoring of marine water qualityis an important strategy for maintaining the qualityof Abu Dhabi’s Marine Environment.

CONCLUSION

10

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