Oman to invest $7bn on wastewater treatment

Oman has committed to invest $7bn to advance the development of wastewater over the next 20 years.

This investment is a part of its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6), which is

one of the 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030, reported Oman Observer.

A report by the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP) stated that 86% of the country’s total drinking water needs come from desalinated water, while groundwater caters to the remaining 14% requirement.

Desalinated water output increased from 196 million m³ per day in 2011 to 311 million m³  per day by the end of 2018.

The government has also planned to increase the investments in wastewater treatment and reuse.

The report also mentioned that the sewage collection and disposal accounts for 98% of the urban population and around 97% of the rural population.

Currently, the country has 68 wastewater plants, which produce about 94 million m³ per year of wastewater.

About 60% of this water is used for refrigeration, agriculture and aesthetic afforestation.

The SCP report stated: “Through the National Strategy for the Use of Tertiary-treated Wastewater 2040, Oman seeks to expand the construction of sewage treatment plants and extend sewage network lines at a cost of $7 billion, averaging $381 million per year.”

Treatment and reuse of wastewater are expected to reduce groundwater pollution.

The report further added: “In view of the current water shortage pressure estimated at about 128 per cent, the sultanate seeks to ensure sustainable freshwater availability and supply by 2030 by balancing supply and demand and expanding the use of non-conventional water resources (treated wastewater) currently used to replenish some coastal aquifers.”

“Furthermore, by implementing water demand management (WDM) policies and changing cropping patterns and traditional irrigation systems, Oman aims to increase current water use efficiency, estimated at around $47 per cu m in 2018, with a focus on the agriculture sector, which is the largest water-consumer, accounting for 83 per cent of total uses,” it added.