Veolia Water Technologies (VWT) collaborated with Katara Project, to provide an innovative Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) Polishing Plant. This project is marked as an achievement of an important milestone, which is aiming to fulfill the Environmental Development goals for Qatar National Vision 2030 strategy by conserving freshwater resources and promoting sustainable water use.
Katara, a major cultural and touristic 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 utilising treated sewage effluent instead of desalinated sea or brackish water.
The TSE Polishing Plant, provided by VWT Qatar, is specifically designed to optimise space and power supply constraints within the existing Katara Energy Centre. This innovative approach has led to a significant reduction in project costs. The plant, with a capacity of 15,000 cubic meters per day (CMD), is the first of its kind in the region. It efficiently converts treated sewage effluent into high-quality demineralised 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.
This project exemplifies sustainable wastewater reuse, preserving groundwater resources and consuming less energy. Veolia’s inline design technology, employed in this plant, represents a groundbreaking solution for wastewater reuse in the region. In June 2024, Katara Project enlisted Veolia Water Technologies Qatar in the further support with supervising the operation & maintenance of the plant.
Thierry Froment, the CEO of Veolia Water Technologies Middle East commented,“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 stated, “The launch of the Treated Sewage Effluent Polishing Plant is a groundbreaking achievement and a testament to
our dedication to environmental sustainability. This project and collaboration with VWT Qatar allowed us to reduce our freshwater consumption and align this progress with Qatar National Vision 2030. By utilising 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."