Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Locals and expats living in Al Amerat have circulated videos on social media showing treated effluent water which is not suitable for swimming or drinking being pumped into Wadi Al Amerat, prompting the organisations responsible for water treatment requesting people to not drink or swim in them.
The request to not do so was issued by Haya Water, which manages the stations that pump water into this wadi, as well as the Environment Authority, which has granted them the permission to do so, after a number of videos featuring people warning of the danger of this treated water for drinking and swimming in Wadi Al Amerat were circulated on social media.
In the videos, people can be seen asking why this treated effluent water has been allowed to flow in the wadi, while talking about the danger of mixing treated water with fresh water within.
The wadi is often frequented by others, especially families and their children who come there, as well as the danger of treated water mixing with ground water in the ground’s sub-soil, which they feel causes poisoning of the land and water that could harm people, trees, birds and other natural resources, which have been a key part of Amerat for many years.
These videos also show people wondering as to why this water isn’t used instead for beautifying the surrounding areas and to water plants that are in need of this water, as opposed to letting it flow unused into the wadi.
On being approached by Times of Oman over these concerns, both Haya Water and the Environment Authority provided responses which said that the treated water would not cause serious harm, nor would it actively contribute to a spread in disease or unsanitary conditions.
“We undertook a field visit to the site where treated wastewater is being discharged,” said a spokesperson for the Environment Authority. “The surplus is being discharged into Wadi Al Amerat, and during the visit, we realised that the main reason for discharging this water into the wadi is because about 25 percent is used for irrigation and afforestation in the Wilayat of Al Amerat through Muscat Municipality, while the rest of the 4,000 cubic metres flows into the wadi.
“The operating capacity of the nearby treatment plant is 6,000 cubic metres a day, and the company had obtained a no objection letter from the authority last December regarding the temporary discharge of this water into the wadi for a period of eight months only, which it could do until 23 August 2020, after the coordination that done with specialists at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources,” added the organisation.
Last July, Haya had sent to the authority a request for an extension to this period, but the company has been asked to redirect their concerns to the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources to get approval.
“We are committed to carrying out our responsibilities regarding water quality and safety,” said the Environment Authority. “We confirm that there are no odours emanating from the water, nor are there insects gathering over it. The flow of the water is also smooth and uninterrupted. Haya Water has also placed a sign informing people that this water is not meant for swimming or personal use.”
The authority’s response came after it had tested the discharge in Wadi Al Amerat, during the months of May, June and July, and found that the quality of water was in accordance with the standards mentioned in the Law on the Protection of Drinking Water Resources from Pollution, which was issued by Royal Decree No. 115/2001.
As part of its measures to ensure the water is used safely, Haya must coordinate with the relevant organisations to ensure it can find more ways to use it, instead of discharging it into the wadi. An online monitoring system must also be installed at the wadi, with access to it provided to the Environment Authority as well. A weekly report on the quality of this water is to be submitted to the government body, along with a chemical analysis report that confirms this.
Responding to questions on Haya Water’s right to discharge treated effluent water into wadis, the company said, “Haya has a no objection certificate to discharge the treated water, which meets environmental standards. However, this discharge is temporary, until the completion of the treated effluent water line towards Wadi Al Janhi.”
Responding to concerns over any potential health issues the presence of this water could have on the health of adults and children, Haya Water said, “This water is of a high enough quality to be used in the irrigation of fruit trees, and plants in public parks. Many countries, such as Australia, use secondary treated effluent water to recharge their aquifers.
The company added: “The water produced in the Amerat sewage treatment plant is treated with the latest technology involving a membrane bioreactor, which produces a discharge of high quality which meets the Stipulated Standard Quality Specifications of Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Environment Authority, so it can play a role in recharging aquifers, because natural water might evaporate before it reaches them. This treated water is freely flowing, and Wadi Amerat has been running all year even, before Haya Water started discharging this water into it.”
“We would also like to point out that we recently made this treated water available to the people of Amerat for free,” added Haya, when asked how it was possible to best utilise this water.
