JEDDAH, 7 August 2007 — Municipal authorities have started to redirect sewage from the Al-Ruwais and the Al-Balad water treatment plants to the Al-Khumra sewage dump instead of the Al-Arbaeen and Al-Amanah Lakes, located near the downtown area of Jeddah.
“Other treatment plants serving the southern parts of Jeddah are also now being connected to the newly established sewage network that leads to new treatment plants,” said Khalid Aqeel, deputy mayor for services.
Aqeel said that the new plant treats sewage from the city’s various areas, making the water useful for irrigation and industrial use.
He added that Jeddah Municipality is installing 100 new purification fountains in areas containing still water across Jeddah. The fountains will provide the water with oxygen to eliminate harmful bacteria that cause stench.
He added that 40 air pumps installed recently in the Al-Arbaeen and Al-Amanah lakes have completely replenished the water, eliminated stench and allowed marine life to appear again in both lakes.
The two lakes are undergoing a major rehabilitation project that would include playgrounds, stalls, seats and other facilities for people to enjoy.
A similar development project has also been designated for the Briman Lake, known as the Musk Lake, which will be treated and turned into a public park with various facilities, Aqeel said.
He added that development work on Briman Lake is currently under way and results are expected to appear at the end of the year.
The municipality in January signed a SR28.4 million contract with a foreign company to implement the project. The six-month contract, the first of its kind in the Gulf region, covers an area of 2.5 square kilometers.
