Waste Water Treatment Plant in Qatar | Sea Water Desalination Plants in Qatar

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment (BWRO)

Modular Compact Plants For Waste water Treatment

What is reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water treatment process used widely in Qatar and beyond, where pressure is applied to a solution with a high concentration of contaminants. For instance, when pressure is exerted on a volume of saltwater, the water molecules pass through a semipermeable membrane, leaving the salt behind. This process transforms saltwater into drinkable freshwater. The resulting clean water is called the permeate, while the leftover concentrate is known as waste or brine.

In the reverse osmosis water treatment process, unfiltered water, or feedwater, flows to the more concentrated side of the RO membrane under applied pressure. This pressure forces the water through the semipermeable membrane. Both the contaminants and the membrane possess ions with like charges, causing a repelling effect that prevents the contaminants from crossing to the other side of the membrane. This efficient and effective method ensures that the contaminants are separated, providing Qatar with a reliable source of purified water essential for both residential and industrial purposes.

Stages of RO Systems

Reverse osmosis is only one stage in a comprehensive RO water treatment system. These systems consist of 5 or 7 stages, depending on the source water chemistry and the contaminants present. In an RO water treatment system, water is always treated with reverse osmosis in conjunction with prefilters and post-filters to ensure optimal purification and safety.

Each type of system contains one or more of the following filters:

Benefits of Drinking Safe Water

It lubricates the joints

Cartilage, found in joints and the disks of the spine, contains around 80 percent water. Long-term dehydration can reduce the joints’ shock-absorbing ability, leading to joint pain.

It forms saliva and mucus

Saliva helps us digest our food and keeps the mouth, nose, and eyes moist. This prevents friction and damage. Drinking water also keeps the mouth clean. Consumed instead of sweetened beverages, it can also reduce tooth decay

It delivers oxygen throughout the body

Blood is more than 90 percent water, and blood carries oxygen to different parts of the body.

It boosts skin health and beauty

With dehydration, the skin can become more vulnerable to skin disorders and premature wrinkling.

It cushions the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues

Dehydration can affect brain structure and function. It is also involved in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters. Prolonged dehydration can lead to problems with thinking and reasoning.

2. Sea water Desalination Plant (SWRO)

The sea water desalination plant in Qatar exemplifies advanced water treatment technology, transforming abundant sea water into usable resources. Sea water is drawn from Deep Bay by a pumping station, where we can design the desalination plant to any capacity required.

Initially, the sea water undergoes a pre-treatment stage where basket screens remove debris, sand, and grit. Following this, the water passes through a series of treatments including coagulation, flocculation, and filtration to eliminate fine and suspended solids.

Reverse osmosis is the core technology of this water treatment process. In this stage, sea water is forced against a semi-permeable membrane at high pressure. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking most of the salts, resulting in concentrated salt water, which is then returned to the sea. The water undergoes two stages of reverse osmosis to maximize salt removal.

The purified water produced can serve various purposes: as process water without further treatment, as drinking water after mineralization, or as make-up water for boilers after additional purification. This comprehensive water treatment approach ensures that Qatar can effectively utilize its sea water resources, meeting diverse needs from industrial applications to providing safe drinking water.

3. Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)

The sewage treatment plant process involves multiple stages of water treatment to improve the quality of wastewater for recycling. These stages include primary, secondary or biological, and tertiary treatments. With Qatar experiencing rapid infrastructural development and increased water usage for domestic and commercial purposes, the generation of wastewater has significantly increased.

What type of waste does sewage contain? Sewage typically contains a high quantity of organic wastes and may also include inorganic wastes. It is crucial to treat sewage before it enters any water body. Without proper water treatment, sewage can contaminate water sources, posing serious environmental and health risks. Therefore, it is essential to treat sewage effectively before discharging it into rivers or streams.

By implementing advanced sewage treatment processes, Qatar can ensure the safe recycling of wastewater, protecting its precious water resources and promoting sustainable development.

4. Waste water treatment Plant

1. DESCRIPTION OF MOBILE BED TECHNOLOGY (MBBR)

Moving bed technology is an advanced water treatment method utilized in Qatar, leveraging the growth of biomass on plastic supports that move within a biological reactor. These supports, made of plastic material with a density close to 1 g/cm³, are agitated by aeration systems in aerobic reactors or mechanical agitation systems in anoxic or anaerobic reactors, allowing them to move effortlessly even with filling percentages of up to 70%.

The biofilm that forms on these supports is more efficient than biological flocs, enabling moving bed reactors to be smaller in volume compared to those using activated sludge. As the biofilm grows on the supports, the internal layers undergo anaerobiosis, causing parts of the biofilm to detach naturally. This self-regulating process ensures that the necessary biofilm formation is automatically maintained according to the load.

By employing moving bed technology, Qatar enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of its water treatment processes, optimizing space and ensuring high-quality treatment outcomes. This innovative approach supports the country’s goals of sustainable water management and environmental protection.

BENEFITS

Lower volume of the biological reactor.
Highly flexible process, allowing the filling volume to be varied within the reactor.
It does not require recirculation of biomass to the reactor, this means that the biomass does not depend on the final separation of the sludge, avoiding common problems in conventional activated sludge processes related to the sediment ability of the sludge (filamentous bulking, etc.)
The operation and control of this type of process are simple since a knowledge of the biology of the process is not required, it is only necessary to keep the equipment working mechanically since the system maintains the biomass in the reactor until it is detached from the support.

MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY (MBR)

The use of MBR technology in waste water treatment has allowed the development of solutions for the reuse of water in urban, agricultural, irrigation, and other industrial uses.

Benefits

Possibility of reusing treated water, thanks to the high quality of its effluent.
Exhibit high waste removal efficiency.
Ability to remove various pollutants such as bacteria, nitrogen, and other suspended solid waste.
It takes up less space than other types of plants.
Produces less sludge volume

Membrane technologies are a key innovation in water treatment, particularly for wastewater treatment plants that use membranes as filtering elements. These membranes allow water to pass through while retaining suspended solids and other contaminants. Membrane Biological Reactors (MBR) combine biological processes with membrane technology, replacing the traditional secondary decanter with a membrane-based system for separating solids and liquids.

MBR technology utilizes a straightforward filtration process through a membrane. The membrane’s porosity can be adjusted based on the type of water being treated and the specific treatment process. These membranes, which can be either organic or mineral, act as selective separation barriers. Water passes through the membrane, while solid substances and residues are retained.

In Qatar, MBR technology offers an advanced solution for efficient water treatment. This approach ensures high-quality water purification, meeting the region’s stringent environmental standards and addressing its unique water treatment needs. By integrating biological processes with membrane filtration, Qatar can optimize its wastewater treatment systems, promoting sustainability and water resource management.