Abu Dhabi 100m Underground

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Abu Dhabi 100m Underground

Network of 7,000km of Sewer Pipes Collects Everything that Is Flushed Down the Drain and Transports It to Treatment Plants

Deep below the ground you walk on in the Capital is a city of pipes — a complex network encompassing thousands of kilometres; the lifeline of sewage disposal in the emirate.

"There are the electric wires; water and gas pipes; and the last is us, 100 metres below ground," said Alan Thomson, managing director of Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC).

This network of 7,000km of sewer pipes collects everything that is flushed down the drain and transports it to treatment plants.

"Presently, Abu Dhabi produces 850 mega litres (850,000 cubic meters) of sewage per day. It all goes through three stages of treatment, and the result is water as clear as this one in the glass," he illustrated.

The treated wastewater ends up with zero per cent impurities, being just one step further from becoming potable. That step, involving adding minerals to the purified water, is a massive investment and not yet worth it.

Only a handful of countries worldwide are commercialising drinkable wastewater and although perfectly safe and clean, not many people are keen on drinking it.

"In Abu Dhabi, all treated wastewater is used for greenery and forestry irrigation. It could be perfectly safe for farming too, but our infrastructure does not allow for that (currently). If we had treatment plants near farm lands, then it could be done," Thomson pointed out.

Across the emirate, the ADSSC has 41 treatment plants that purify all of Abu Dhabi's wastewater, thus alleviating the need for sewage to end up in the sea. Yet, only 60 per cent of the treated wastewater is used. Still, this saves about 12 per cent of potable water, whether from ground or desalination sources.

"In the future, we plan to re-use 100 per cent of treated wastewater, which would save 20 per cent of potable water," said Thomson.

That future is about five years from now, when the ADSSC would improve its infrastructure. According to Thomson, four new treatment plants have been commissioned — two in Abu Dhabi with a capacity of 300 mega litres per day each, and two in Al Ain with a combined capacity of 230 mega litres per day.

Residential sewage

Although there is sewage produced by the business and industry sectors, the majority is residential. With the emirate's population constantly growing, so does its sewerage needs. According to the ADSSC, the sewerage requirements go up by eight per cent annually.

Treating wastewater does have a negative impact on the environment, since it involves the use of chemicals and electricity consumption, but the ADSSC is keeping this impact to a minimum.

Chemicals are only used for disinfecting treated water, otherwise the process is a natural one, using good bacteria to kill off the bad ones.

Getting the sewage to the treatment plants is another environmental achievement.

Source: Khalej Times

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