Haya Water developing largest ever submerged membrane reactor plant as key element of world class water reuse system

Haya Water has announced more details of the scope and scale of its world class water reuse system which is considered the first and largest submerged Membrane Bio-reactor treatment plant worldwide. The plant was opened officially and put into full operation on 27^th February 2011.

The company has been committed since the outset to ensuring that it has incorporated the most advanced and sophisticated sewage treatment technology into its project that will transform Muscat and help make it a better city for now and in the future.

Al Ansab treatment plant includes the world’s largest submerged membrane bio-reactor system with a capacity to handle up to 74,000 cubic meters of effluent every day when phase II completed.

The plant, which is now up running, receives sewage from the tanker discharge area and the newly constructed central pumping station at Al Azaiba area; as the project continues to connect private homes and businesses across the Muscat Municipality area.  This will be delivered using a network of 280km of pipeline that will transport the treated effluent efficiently to Al Ansab for the final treatment process.

Al Ansab STP is one of the most complex and advanced ever undertaken in the region and will ensure that the city benefits from a modern, clean and healthy waste water system that will also benefit the local community by providing treated effluent to be used for irrigation and other purposes across the Muscat area.

Installing Membrane Bio Reactor technology (MBR) is a vital part of ensuring that the water available to be re-used is of the highest quality and meets stringent standards set down by authorities across the Sultanate for the use of this water.

The sophisticated nature of MBR also means that it is able to take up far less space than other treatment systems – and this was particularly important on the Al Ansab site that is surrounded by hills making space tighter for the plant.

Haya Water CEO, Omar Al Wahaibi explained: “From the outset of the project, Haya Water was determined to ensure that we installed the very best systems and technology to help ensure we can offer everyone living and working in Muscat a sustainable and modern water re-use system that will bring long-term benefits to society and the environment.

“Ensuring that MBR was an integral part of our waste water treatment plant was an essential part of that strategy – as it is a highly cost effective and technically outstanding solution that has met our objective of maximizing the amount of treated effluent that can be used to help make Muscat a greener and cleaner city”.

“It also means that through our operations Haya Water is able to make a difference to the lives of tens of thousands of Omani citizens and residents every day and help to improve their quality of life and the environment around them.” 

When completed over 80 per cent of Muscat residents will be connected directly to the new modern system.  It will mean an end for most residents of the need for a smelly septic tank and the requirement for a truck to come and take away waste water from private homes and businesses across the whole of Muscat – making life healthier for families and children.

Water available for re-use from the project is being used extensively to ensure that parks and public areas of Muscat stay green, golf courses are watered and increasing numbers of real estate developers and industrial concerns are also benefitting from the Haya Water project and its treated water.