Improper wastewater treatment 'a major problem' in Oman

Improper wastewater treatment is leading to contaminated land in Oman, according to a recent government report, which suggests that many districts of the country are being  affected by improper disposal of wastewater.

The State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution (SFAAI) conducted the survey that analysed the effectiveness of sewage treatment plants in the area. A recent government injection of RO82 million (£136 million) from the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR) meant that treatment plants had been set up to deal with the problem, but these new findings suggest that it has only been effective in some areas.

According to the findings, most areas of the country are still suffering from the presence of large quantities of untreated wastewater. This is water that has been disposed of in unsuitable ways, such as in dumping in holes in the ground and landfills.

SFAAI said in their report: “This leads to leaks in the subsoil and groundwater contamination, besides emissions harmful to the environment and public health."

There were several factors that could have caused this land contamination. For example, some districts still do not have their own treatment stations despite high population density. There are also districts with high industrial output that may not have their own treatment resources.

Additionally, there are districts where the sewage plants suffered from inadequate capacity due to “shortcomings in pre-implementation studies and not being built based on the results of the population census,” the report said. In some places, these plants also stop functioning because of lack of maintenance.

A recent three day event has highlighted the Sultanate government's plans to establish new projects for the expansion of existing water desalination plants. The Muscat International Water, Electricity and Power Sustainable Exhibition 2012 was held as new power, water, and energy projects valued at $180 billion are underway or in the planning stages in the region.

Posted by Claire Manning