Wastewater Reuse in the GCC Is a Viable, But Underdeveloped, Solution to Scarcity

Each person in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) consumes an average of 816 cubic meters of water per year—65 percent more than the world average. However, several opportunities to increase wastewater treatment and reuse are still being underutilized. Wastewater may hold the key to solving the region's supply problem in the coming decades.

Rapid Urbanization

Major cities such as Riyadh and Dubai are undergoing rapid urbanization. This has put pressure on existing infrastructure and resources. These cities must quickly adapt to the demographic growth and efficiently manage key services such as power and water. Riyadh has seen an increase of 20 percent in population since 2008, putting acute stress on the water infrastructure. The kingdom has moved toward privatization of national utility services to increase operational efficiency. The aim is to optimize water and wastewater management as part of broader developmental agenda. Dubai has a well-established wastewater infrastructure. However, the rate of water reuse is still low. Dubai and other emirates in the UAE have recognized wastewater reclamation and reuse as an integral component of their overall water strategy.

Selecting a Wastewater Pump

Pumps move raw wastewater or effluent/freshwater through a treatment process. During pretreatment, pumps transfer the wastewater from the sump tank to treatment devices. The effluent pumps and freshwater pumps are used after treatment and carry the process effluents and freshwater. Solids-handling capacity, pressure-flow relation and corrosion resistance are all factors to consider when selecting a wastewater pump. Other key factors include the size of the treatment plant, sewage type, wastewater treatment process and discharge rate. In the Middle East, the major suppliers of wastewater pumps are Xylem, KSB, Sulzer and Ebara.

Collecting, But Not Treating

In most MENA countries, the collection rate of wastewater is continually increasing. Sewage networks have gradually expanded as an urban necessity. Wastewater collection coverage ranges between 70 and 95 percent for MENA countries. The treatment of collected wastewater is low. Only 55 percent of wastewater undergoes treatment. Substantial amounts of wastewater are discharged without treatment or after basic treatment. According to recent research by Arcadis NV, about 40 percent of treated wastewater in the Middle East is discharged into the sea. This figure could be as high as 60 percent for some countries in the region.