Dubai plans new sewer system for next 50 years

Dubai plans new sewer system for next 50 years
Dubai Municipality says it has begun exploratory work for a major new sewage treatment system

(Photo for illustrative purposes only)

By Staff writer

Tue 21 Nov 2017 04:10 PM

Dubai Municipality has begun exploratory work for a major new sewage treatment system as part of its infrastructure drive to accommodate continued population growth.

The Dubai Strategic Sewer Tunnel Project, for which Dubai Municipality has engaged Parsons Overseas Limited as engineering consultant, will involve construction of more than 70km of tunnels supported by approximately 140km of link sewers and key pumping stations.

It will serve the city for at least the next 50 years, a statement said.

When completed in 2022, the project will eliminate over 100 pump stations around the city that currently transfer sewage to treatment plants in Al Warsan and Jebel Ali, it added.

Dubai Municipality, which has commenced a geotechnical investigation for the project, said the key objectives are to reduce the cost of treating sewage, reduce carbon emissions through the use of gravity systems and reduction in power demand.

“The sewerage infrastructure is part of the essential infrastructure of a modern city,” said Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.

“To fulfil the city’s needs, Dubai has approved an integrated plan proposal to expand the existing sewerage system and improve the arrangements for sewage disposal by combining land based sewage treatment and a deep tunnel sewerage conveyance system.”

Lootah added: “Residential areas are affected greatly in terms of increasing density and overloading of existing infrastructure. The new sewerage system will serve the city for at least the next 50 years.”

Upon completion of field work, the results of testing and laboratory analysis will be evaluated to provide advice on appropriate construction methodologies for the tunnels.

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