Katara, a major cultural and tourist destination in Doha, will now save between 5,000 to 15,000 cubic meters per day (CMD) of fresh water previously used for irrigation and district cooling (cooling towers make up) by utilizing treated sewage effluent instead of desalinated sea or brackish water.
The TSE polishing plant, provided by VWT Qatar, was designed to optimize space and power supply constraints within the existing Katara Energy Centre. This has led to a significant reduction in project costs. The plant, with a capacity of 15,000 CMD, is the first of its kind in the region, efficiently converting treated sewage effluent into high-quality demineralized water suitable for cooling towers feed and irrigation of Katara’s green hills.
By substituting fresh water from Kahramaa with treated sewage effluent, the project reduces water costs dramatically — from 9 QAR down to 1 QAR per cubic meter, and reduces the power needed for water production to just 20% of that required for other treatment solutions. It also reduces the quantity of water used to feed the cooling towers.
Thierry Froment, CEO of Veolia Water Technologies Middle East, said: “Our collaboration with Katara Project aligns with our GreenUp strategic program which aims to help territories adapt to climate change. This project not only conserves the precious freshwater, but also exemplifies the sustainable water use in the city. By transforming treated sewage into high quality water for irrigation and cooling, we are pioneering a new standard resource management efficiency and sustainability for the region.”
Mohammed AL Meer, Director General of Katara Project said: “This project and collaboration with VWT Qatar allowed us to reduce our freshwater consumption and align this progress with Qatar National Vision 2030. By utilizing treated sewage for irrigation and cooling, we are not only preserving vital natural resources, but also setting a new benchmark for sustainable practices in cultural and touristic destinations”.
