The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

52°E

53°E

54°E

55°E

56°E

149

W ATER I NFRASTRUCTURE D ESALINATION , S UPPLY , D ISTRIBUTION & ASR P ROJECTS

900

800

26°N

26°N

700

Ra's al- Khaimah

600

The Emirate’s increased reliance on desalinated water to meet demand is fuelling the development of an interconnected system of desalination plants that treat seawater and distribute it to water supply centres. Desalinatedwater accounts for approximately twenty-four per cent of the total water consumed in the Emirate. Though desalination capacity has increased markedly over the past decade (currently it stands at 684 million imperial gallons/day), demand is quickly outpacing supply, and, in the absence of new capacity, will outstrip demand in 2014. To manage this shortfall, additional desalination plants are planned and alternative means of supply are being examined. For example, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

has teamed with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) to inject desalinated water into strategic underground reserves, referred to as Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) schemes. Storage of water in these existing aquifers will ensure adequate reserves of potable water (up to ninety days) in times of peak demand or as a backup system in case of emergency. Locations of the reservoirs where the ASR schemes will be implemented include an area north of the Liwa Crescent and near Shuweib west of Al Ain. In addition to increasing storage capacity of desalinated water in the Emirate, the ASR schemes will provide other benefits such as reducing the salt content of groundwater.

500

400

Umm al-Qaiwain

300

200

Desalination Capcity (MGD) 100

Ajman

0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Forecasted

Desalination Capacity by Year

Sharjah

Dubai

233 MGD

A r a b i a n G u l f

25°N

25°N

Taweela

297 MGD

Shwaib

Al Faq

Samha

Desalination Plants on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman Most of the desalinated water in Abu Dhabi is produced from six plants located on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The combined capacity of these plants is expected to increase above current capacity by 520 million imperial gallons/day over the next several years to meet growing water demands.

Mkasib

Al Hayer

Abu Dhabi

Qaffay

Shahama

Muhayyimat

145 MGD

Sweihan

Ghaghah

Sir Bani Yas

Bani Yas

Marawah

Al Ain

Yahir

Al-Sulaimat

Jebel Dhanna

Bu Samra

As Sad

Remah

Abu al-Abyadh

101 MGD

Al Khazna

Al Khatim

39 MGD

Ghuweifat

Ruwais

Az Zahir

Al Hamra

Sila'a

Mirfa

Tarif

Mezyed

24°N

24°N

Shuwaib ASR Project

Abu Dhabi Western Region

Al Arad

Towns

LIWA ASR Project Inset Map The Project for Artificial Recharge and Utilisation of the Groundwater Resource in the Liwa Area lays the groundwork for planning and implementing a large-scale artificial groundwater recharge and recovery programme in Abu Dhabi Emirate. The project consists of three different well types. There are 50 groundwater observation wells equipped with devices to continuously monitor groundwater level, electrical conductivity, and temperatures. 5 combined recharge and recovery wells inject desalinated seawater into the aquifer as well as recover infiltrated groundwater; while 4 recovery wells, located around the infiltration basin, are used exclusively for the extraction of naturally existing and newly recharged groundwater.

Habshan

Al Ain Abu Dhabi

Ghayathi

Large/Medium Towns

Bid al-Mutawa

Administrative Boundaries Regions

25 MGD

Roads

Al Wijan

Dual Carriageway

Madinat Zayed

Single Carriageway/Graded

Water Infrastructure

Bu Hasa

31 MGD

Water Facilities Desalination Plants and Capacity (MGD)

Al Qua'a

ASR Monitoring Wells Main Distribution Line

LIWA ASR Project Liwa has some of the Emirate’s most productive aquifers. The shallow-to- medium-deep aquifer just north of Liwa provides optimal conditions for using desalinated water to artificially recharge the system, including: Adequate aquifer thickness, hydro- chemical conditions, depth of the groundwater table and homogenous lithology. Monitoring wells at the site (left), provide data on the recovery efficiency, storage capacity and hydro-chemical properties of the underground reservoir.

Liwa ASR Project Area Reservoirs (Capacity MG) < 3.0 3.1 to 8.0

Shah

Khannur

Mouzaira'a

8.1 to 20.0

Liwa

20.1 to 40.0

Aradah

23°N

23°N

40.1 to 100.0

Al Ain Western Region

Liwa ASR Wells Recovery

> 100.1

69 MGD

Umm Az-Zumul

Recharge\Recovery

Observation

1

0.5

0

1

2

Kilometres

20

0

20

40 Kilometres

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