WORK on a major project to recyle water in Muscat, Oman, is progressing apace with construction of a new water treatment plant and wastewater network well under way.

The Governorate of Muscat’s water reuse project is considered one of the major development projects as it is directly linked to people’s health and safety and aims to create a better environment, says Hamad bin Ali Al Jabri, the general manager-projects of Haya Water, the government-owned company tasked with implementing the project.

The masterplan aims to connect 80 per cent of all residences in Muscat’s governorate with a state-of-the-art water treatment plant in Greater Muttrah, one of the densely populated wilayats in the governorate.

Construction of a new water treatment plant at Darsait has already started while almost 30 per cent of the wastewater network being built across Greater Muttrah – covering Darsait Al Sahel, Wadi Al Kabir, Al Hamriya and Ruwi – is now complete, says Al Jabri.

“When complete, the networks will allow easy and safe wastewater collection from houses and commercial buildings to the treatment plant in Darsait,” he says.

The project will eliminate pollution hazards and diseases as wastewater will be transported from the houses through network of pipes and then treated using state-of-the-art technology to ensure efficient reuse of the treated water for irrigation purposes.

The Darsait plant will treat water from Wadi Kabir, Hamriya, Ruwi, Bait Al Falaj, Darsait, Darsait Al Sahel, Einat and Muttrah. The plant is designed to treat water in three stages to ensure high quality water that meets the standards set by the sultanate.

The plant will use membrane bio-reactor (MBR) technology to produce high-quality and pollutant-free treated water.
The main aim of treating this water is to protect the environment while further raising standards of health and hygiene
and decreasing the consumption of fresh underground water currently used for irrigation purposes.

The location of the plant in Darsait was chosen after detailed studies, says Al Jabri. The new plant will replace an existing one which was built in late 70s. The plant’s location allows water to flow by gravity negating the need for pumping stations.

The old plant will be decommissioned once the new one comes into service.

“The plant will be completely covered to facilitate ventilation and air treatment,” he explains. “This will help in containing undesired odours resulting from the treatment process. Necessary measures were also taken to ensure harmony of the new plant with the surrounding environment and properties.”

Established in 2002, Haya Water is 100 per cent owned by the Omani government. The company’s mission is to implement projects that serve society and protect the environment. Haya Water currently employs 343 Omanis and has also helped generate a number of indirect job opportunities with local contractors.