Dhs1.56bn sewage water treatment plant at Jebel Ali to be completed by 2010

He said the Drainage and Irrigation Department at the Municipality is undertaking the implementation of the project, which will be completed in 2010.

"The project forms part of the civic body's strategic plans to protect environment, public health and safety and increase the percentage of areas linked with the city's main drainage net-work to 100% as well as reduce the percentage of sewage water transported by heavy tankers to just five per cent by 2011," said Lootah.

He said 40% of the work has been completed so far. "As per the plan of the project 56% of the work will be completed in the first phase and 37% in the second phase. The work on the project was started on mid-April last year," Lootah said.

He said the project covers an area of 670 hectare and is designed to have the capacity to provide sewage water treatment service for 300,000 cubic metre water a day. "In the first phase the capacity will be for 150,000 cubic metres," said Lootah.

"The project is also linked to many other ongoing projects. They include setting up of pumping stations and a huge pipe network for transporting sewage water from different areas of the city of Dubai to the plant in Jebel Ali," he said.

Lootah said the Jebel Ali Sewage Treatment Plant is going to be the major sewage treatment plant in the city, in place of the current Al Aweer Plant.

He said the project has been awarded to one of the biggest private firms of high reputation in the field of infrastructure development and it will be carried out under the supervision of a prominent consultant.