The Deputy Chairman of the AlـKharafi Group Marzouq AlـKharafi has pointed out that the main aim of setting up the sewage treatment station in Sulaibiya , which has been executed by one of the AlـKharafi Group companies, was to protect the Kuwaiti marine environment from pollution. He pointed out that the station is designed to treat 425,000 cubic meters of sewage water daily and transform it into purified water.
In a press statement released to Al Watan, AlـKharafi noted that the "processed water is similar to potable water in terms of quality and in accordance with the standards of the World Health Organization" (WHO), noting that the water is also used to irrigate the Abdally farms. AlـKharafi went on to say that work is in progress to channel this water to the AlـWafra farms by the Ministry of Public Works rather than dispose it into the sea.
"Kuwait can proudly state that the Sulaibiya station is the largest in the world," he asserted, noting that the station is also a destination for international specialists given the quality of water it produces.
An official at the station noted that the project will save the country about 11 billion Kuwaiti dinars during its operational period of 30 years. "The project is considered to be one of the leading projects not only in the region per se but worldwide," he reiterated, adding that it''s the first infrastructural project to be executed through the BOT system. He noted that the purity of the processed water is far beyond the WHO standards, adding that in addition to its usage in agricultural and industrial domains it can be injected underground as a strategic reservoir.
Elaborating on plans to improve the station, he said that relevant studies have already been conducted. He explained that there are special labs within the station, adding that the Environment Public Authority and the Ministry of Health constantly monitor the station to ensure the safety of the processed water and its quality. The plant was built according to the BOT system for 30 years at a cost of 500 million U.S. dollars and was financed by local banks.
A reliable source at the Ministry of Public Works informed Al Watan that the sewage water treatment and purification plant in Sulaibiya is considered as one of the best fourـ level treatment plants in the region, and has reached an advanced level in treating sewage water in different areas of Kuwait. He added that there is a plan to increase treatment plants after the realization of high demand on treated water by farms and other government institutions
The source announced that there are four treatment plants in operation in AlـRiqqa with a capacity of 180 cubic meters per day, AlـJahra at 65 million cubic meters per day, Um AlـHaimaan 27,000 cubic meters per day, in addition to the sewage treatment plant in AlـSulaibiya. "And in the year 2020 a new treatment plant will be built in the southern areas of Kuwait with a capacity of 500 cubic meters per day to replace the AlـRiqqa plant according to a contract signed recently with an international consultancy office which is to design the plant," he added.
He added that next year a sewage treatment plant will be built in Kabad with a capacity of 250,000 cubic meters per day which is included in the same construction contract at the cost of KD 56 million, and will be built by year 2012.ـ

Alwatan Daily