Salinity baseline results released for Puchuncaví-Quintero bay

The Salinity Table has officially released the results of its 2024-2026 water salinity baseline for the Puchuncaví-Quintero bay. The study, conducted by a tripartite group including the Bahía Narau Fishermen's Federation, the company Aguas Pacífico, and scientists from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the University of Valparaíso, establishes the natural salinity levels of the marine ecosystem.

Findings indicate that natural salinity in the bay ranges between 34 and 35 PSU, consistent with the central Chilean Pacific coast. This scientific baseline is intended to provide a transparent framework for monitoring salinity changes before and after the operation of a new desalination plant at the Quintero LNG Terminal. The desalination project aims to produce up to 2,000 liters of water per second and involves modifying the submarine outfall and optimizing seawater intake systems.