The Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) is currently engaged in the construction of a number of water projects in the Governorates of A’Dakhiliyah and A’Dhahirah worth more that 80 million rials. The projects include the establishment of three water distribution networks in the wilayats of Sumail and Bahla, as well as the Niyabat Jabel Al Akhdhar in the Wilayat of Nizwa, which include reservoirs and stations to enhance pumping capacity, water filling stations, the construction and expansion of a number of the existing desalination plants.

Eng. Ahmad Bin Nasser Al Abri, Director of Water Projects in the Governorates of A’Dakhiliyah and A’Dhahirah, said that the two governorates will witness, in the upcoming period, the beginning of a number of water projects as PAEW is examining proposals for implementation of water projects in a number of villages in Bahla.

He pointed out that the project in general includes the establishment of networks and transmission lines to distribute water, water tanks and stations to strengthen pumping, administrative building, integrated systems for control and water purification systems. First stage of the project is the supply of water to villages in the wilayats of Sumail and Izki in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah.

Al Abri said the two projects are of great importance in providing water to these communities that suffer from lack of water sources as the pace of development is accelerating, adding that the Tender Board has recently advertised bidding projects for supplying water to some villages in the Wilayat of Sumail. The project will also include the supply of water to Tawi Al Nisf.

Currently, studies and designs are being prepared for water supply project to the Wilayat of Bidbid and water supply to some villages in the Wilayat of Ibri in the Governorate of A’Dhahirah, as well as some villages in the Wilayat of Bahla in the governorate of A’Dakhiliyah.

He added that other projects due to be constructed in the Governorate of A’Dhahirah include the expansion of water network in Al Massarat Basin, which includes establishing pipelines and water distribution networks in the wilayats of Ibri, Yanqul and Dhank for 194 kilometres and water tanks and stations to enhance pumping and integrated systems for control systems for disinfection water. PAEW coordinates with the Tender Board to examine the financial bids from several contractors competing for the implementation of the project, which is expected to be awarded in the upcoming two months.

On water projects being implemented in the Governorate of A’Dhahirah, Al Abri said works continue in the Wilayat of Nizwa for the construction of water supply project to the Niyabat of Jabel Al Akhdhar through the establishment of an integrated network of water distribution. The network will cover many villages at Jabel Al Akhdhar.

With regard to water distribution networks expansion project in the Wilayat of Nizwa, he said the project has been recently awarded to a company specialised in water projects and project includes the extension of the water distribution networks covering all villages and modern housing schemes in the wilayat, which is expected that the network length will reach 380km.

He added that a 135km water network in Sumail is under construction to cover the wilayat, as well as a number of residential areas. More than 52 per cent of the project is complete.

As for Bahla project, Al Abri said the company implementing the project has completed more than 80 per cent of the water distribution network, estimated to 350km long and the project will cover the centre of the wilayat and a number of villages.

He added that PAEW continues to implement the project of establishing an integrated desalination plant in Owafiya in the Wilayat of Bahla with an estimated production capacity of 240,000 litres per a day. The station will provide for the daily requirement of water to citizens in many rural communities in the Wilayat of Bahla. The project includes the rehabilitation of wells that have been drilled, the supply and installation of desalination units and the ratio of project accomplishment is about 78 per cent.