The Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company (OWWSC) hosted an opening ceremony for a water transmission project worth $390 million (150 million Omani rials) that will supply the Al Dhahirah Governorate, linking it to the Sohar Water Desalination Plant in the country’s northern coast, informs Zawya.

Dr. Said bin Mohammed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy, presided over the project inauguration, held in the wilayat (province) of Ibri. The project, completed in April 2022, includes a 230 km water transmission line with 15 tanks that total a storage capacity of 451,000 cubic metres, as well as four pumping stations with a maximum capacity of 144,000 cubic metres per day.

The pipeline runs parallel to the line that goes from Sohar to the Al Buraimi Governorate. Both transmission systems can be linked to better meet the future water needs of the area.

The project will enhance water security in the Al Dhahirah Governorate and reduce reliance on groundwater to meet the demand for drinking water and other activities, thus contributing to the preservation of groundwater resources.

“While designing the project, the company took into account the current and future water needs of Al Dhahirah Governorate. It also took into account the rise in water demand for both commercial and industrial needs,” said Qais bin Saud Al Zakwani, Chief Executive Officer of OWWSC.

Najeeb bin Ali al Rawas, Governor of Al Dhahirah Governorate, said “the project aims to enhance water security in Al Dhahirah Governorate and preserve the groundwater (Al-Masarat wells) as a strategic reserve”, and explained that the OWWSC will gradually connect the water network to residential schemes that were not previously served by the water service provider, expanding the internal network to include most of the villages in the province's wilayats.

Al Rawas added that the Governorate's water security strategy includes the exploitation of wastewater and the possibility of expanding the construction of storage dams in various wilayats, planting local trees that can withstand high temperatures and dry conditions, and using modern technologies to rationalize water consumption.

The project will adhere to the best health standards and international systems for water sterilisation using sodium hypochloride. All operational processes will be managed from the main control and monitoring room at the National Control Centre in Muscat Governorate.