PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS DISCUSS GROUNDWATER ISSUES IN QATAR

Leaders from Qatar’s public and private sector marked international Earth Day by gathering to discuss the threat a rising water table poses to major infrastructure projects. Hosted by local company Uniquip-Hoelscher LLC, the workshop featured prominent experts who discussed risks to drinking water, fish stocks and public health from pollution entering groundwater or being discharged to the sea.  Experts demonstratedhow the cutting edge groundwater treatment systems being used by Uniquip-Hoewater LLC on the Gold Line of the Doha Metro manage the dewatering demands of construction while also purifying the water. Following the discussion, participants touredthe water treatment plant at the Ras Abu Abboud metro station.

 “Development, leaks from older infrastructure and seawater intrusion have resulted in a rising water table under much of Doha,” said Professor Patrick Linke, Chair of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University Qatar. “This issue poses technical challenges and greatly increases the risk of polluting the sea and groundwater as construction projects pump water from sites.”

Addressing the problem in a way that protects human health and the environment is a priority in the National Development Strategy and members of Qatar’s Permanent Water Resource Committee are working across government to set standards and regulations.

“We design, build and operate groundwater treatment plants on the construction site that remove the contaminants and toxins encountered on that particular project,” said Engineer Bjoern Weber, General Manager of the Environmental Department of Uniquip-Hoelscher LLC. 

After  a 3D animation of how the systems clean polluted water and report monitoring levels online, Weber invited the audience to see other examples at www.uniquip-hoelscher.com.