Qatar has record breaking water security! Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, more familiarly known as Kahramaa, has been entered into the Guinness World Records for the Largest Drinking Water Storage Tank in the World – another new world record for Qatar!
A Guiness World Record
According to the ratified certificate bestowed upon Kahramaa by the Guinness World Records, the volume of the water tank, the largest of its kind in the world, is more than 436,000 cubic metres – 96 mn imperial gallons or 115 mn US gallons – and which qualifies Kahramaa for the new world record.
Why make it?
This world-record holding drinking water storage tank is part of Kahramaa’s major water tanks project, and reflects the efficiency of Kahramaa’s strategy to enhance water security in Qatar. It is also in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, which has as one of its goals achieving water security in a number of regions around the country. It supports Kahramaa’s goals in assisting and boosting the country’s comprehensive development process, and is also part of Kahramaa’s commitment to meeting the country’s water needs, providing sustainable and high-quality services in accordance with international and local standards.
The Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project
Kahramaa launched the Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project in December 2018, 18 months after the blockade was imposed on Qatar. The project is in line with the vision of The Amir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who has tasked the utility company with achieving water security for the state, which has witnessed an increasing population and a slew of development projects over the last few years. It also alleviates the need for relying on other, external means of achieving water security.
It has been touted as the largest water storage development ever constructed in the country, with a total capacity of about 1,500 mn gallons and which could guarantee water stock needs until 2026. The project includes 15 reservoirs, thought to be the largest in the world, with a capacity of about 100 mn gallons per reservoir, in five strategic locations: Umm Birka, Umm Slal, Rawdat Rashid, Abu Nakhlah and Al Thumama. Kahramaa plans to expand the project in the future, bringing the number of tanks to 40 with a capacity of nearly 4,000 mn gallons, to meet Qatar’s water requirements until 2036.
The award is yet another successful milestone by the national utility company and reflects the importance given to the project, as it forms the backbone of water security in the State of Qatar. The world record achievement adds to Kahramaa’s already impressive year, having won two awards at the Global Good Governance (3G) Awards in London for the National Program for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed). Meanwhile the inauguration of the Umm Al Houl power plant has increased the water production capacity in Qatar by about 40%.
Kahramaa has worked on maintaining water quality, with the drinking water quality exceeding standards set out by the World Health Organization. The Water Quality Laboratory successfully renewed its ISO 17025: 2005 certification from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, one of the first laboratories to obtain this accreditation in the region.
Author: Sarah Palmer
This feature is an editorial from the ‘Infrastructure’ section in Marhaba – Issue 79 (December 2020). It is also featured in the Qatar’s Infrastructure e-Guide.
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