Dubai Municipality has started operating a first-of-its-kind hazardous industrial wastewater treatment plant in Jebel Ali equipped with state-of-the-art technology according to international best practices. The plant can achieve the highest hygiene and environment standards as after being treated the wastewater is reusable as irrigation water.
“The safe disposal of waste is a challenge to the competent authorities in various countries of the world, especially for hazardous waste, which may have an impact on human health and the environment, which calls for the development of plans and strategies for the disposal of these wastes in safe and appropriate ways that achieve the factors of sustainability and maintain the quality of life,” said Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality.
He said the establishment of the plant is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and fulfils the environmental objectives of the National Agenda and the Dubai 2021 Plan.
“It is one of the pioneering projects implemented by Dubai Municipality at the Jebel Ali Hazardous Waste Treatment Complex. It is one of the innovative projects to enhance efforts in the transition to a green economy. The plant will be able to treat 600 cubic metres of liquid waste per day, using the latest technology and Artificial Intelligence,” said Al Hajri.
“Today, we are moving towards the completion of Dubai’s waste management system, which will see major developments towards the goal of Dubai being free of all kinds of waste.
Eng. Abdulmajeed Saifaie, Director of Waste Management Department, said that the implementation of this distinguished and unique project came after careful study of the best international practices in this field and comparing different treatment systems and processes to enable the selection of the appropriate technology that matches the nature of hazardous industrial waste generated in the emirate.
He added that the plant has the capacity to treat various types of hazardous industrial waste, including acid and petroleum wastes, liquid wastes containing oils, fats and grease, and effluents containing high percentages of heavy metals or toxic components.
Saifaie added that 75 per cent of these wastes are converted to irrigation water suitable for irrigation, in addition to being used for washing equipment and to meet the requirements of some other processing units in the facility, thereby greatly reducing the reliance on potable water.
“In addition, the station is equipped with an Artificial Intelligence system, which contains intelligent sensors capable of reading the quality of water entering the various units of the station, enabling it to carry out the processes without any human intervention from the receipt of waste until the completion of the process of directing treated waste to storage units. These technologies are in line with the Government of Dubai’s aspirations to spread the culture of smart government and complement Dubai Municipality’s efforts to highlight the smart projects, systems and modern technologies it provides to serve the community in various fields, especially infrastructure,” he said.
