Installation and Commissioning of Desalination Plant

Modern Water plc (UK), the owner of leading water technologies for the production of fresh water and monitoring of water quality, have announced the completion of their 200 cubic metres per day forward osmosis desalination plant at Al Najdah in the Al Wusta region of Oman.

In June 2011 Modern Water won the contract worth around £420,000 to build and operate the plant. It is the world’s first commercial forward osmosis desalination plant and the Group’s second plant in Oman.

Fresh water production was started in full capacity in July and through August testing was undertaken to test the water quality. The quality was found to exceed the contractual agreement standards. Currently the plant is operating at full capacity and Modern Water have entered into the 12 month operation and maintenance phase.

The Al Najdah plant is vital to the area as it supplies the local community with a much needed source of clean drinking water. Modern Water has also recruited, and is now training, a number of people from the local community who are employed as part of the site operations team.

Neil McDougall, Executive Chairman of Modern Water plc, commented: “This is a key achievement for Modern Water and an important sign of things to come. We are the world’s first company to apply forward osmosis technology in a commercial setting, using our patented process. The results are in line with the high expectations we set ourselves. Our unique technology greatly reduces both energy and operational costs whilst improving the quality of the water supplied. We offer a sustainable solution that has become increasingly attractive to this multi-billion dollar marketplace”.