Abdul Rahman Al-Manie, director general of Water Department in the Eastern Province, told Arab News after an inspection tour of the various construction sites in the region that “79 percent of the work for the tertiary recycling plant with a capacity for supplying 10,000 cubic meters per day at one of the projects in Dammam will be completed shortly.”

Al-Manie added that special technology has been employed to eliminate the foul odor emitted during the process at the secondary recycling plant in Dammam, which is being expanded at a cost of SR68 million to reclaim 62,000 cubic meters per day. He said the two plants in Qatif are being built at a cost of SR137 million and would be completed in two years.

Apart from lessening the environment hazards, the recycled water meets the agricultural and industrial needs and eases the pressure on the ground water reserves.

Modern technology allows wastewater treatment systems to consistently produce safe water supplies at competitive costs. The degree of treatment depends on the intended use, and public health protection is the paramount criterion for judging the level of treatment needed.