Katara, a prominent cultural and tourist destination in Doha, is set to save between 5,000 to 15,000 cubic meters per day (CMD) of fresh water previously utilized for irrigation and district cooling by employing treated sewage effluent instead of desalinated sea or brackish water. By replacing fresh water from Kahramaa with treated sewage effluent, the project dramatically lowers water costs from 9 QAR to 1 QAR per cubic meter and reduces the power required for water production to just 20% of that needed for other treatment solutions. It also minimizes the quantity of water used to supply the cooling towers.

The TSE polishing plant, provided by VWT Qatar, was designed to address space and power supply constraints within the existing Katara Energy Centre, resulting in a significant reduction in project costs. With a capacity of 15,000 CMD, this plant is the first of its kind in the region, efficiently converting treated sewage effluent into high-quality demineralized water suitable for cooling tower feed and irrigation of Katara’s green hills.

Thierry Froment, CEO of Veolia Water Technologies Middle East, stated: “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 sustainable water use in the city. By transforming treated sewage into high quality water for irrigation and cooling, we are pioneering a new standard of resource management efficiency and sustainability for the region.”

Mohammed AL Meer, Director General of Katara Project, commented: “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.”