On Saturday, Engineer Sherif El-Shorbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, visited the Al-Jabal Al-Asfar Sewage Treatment Plant to inspect the facility’s progress.
The minister toured the project’s phases, which include:
- Phase 1 (Contract 16) with a capacity of 1.5 million cubic meters per day.
- Phase 2 (Contract 19) with a capacity of 1 million cubic meters per day. With both phases, the plant’s total treatment capacity reaches 2.5 million cubic meters per day.
During the visit, Minister El-Shorbiny examined the control room, which oversees the entire plant’s operations electronically. The room plays a crucial role in managing all processes, enabling quick responses and corrective actions for any issues that arise.
Sewage Treatment Process
- Pre-treatment: The incoming water is first filtered to remove sand and oils.
- Primary Treatment: The water undergoes sedimentation in “primary sedimentation tanks” for about 2 to 2.5 hours to allow heavy sludge and organic materials to settle.
- Aeration Tanks: The water then moves to aeration tanks for biological treatment, where oxygen is pumped in to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria that digest the organic materials.
- Clarification and Chlorination: After that, the water undergoes final clarification and is treated with chlorine to disinfect it.
Energy Generation and Environmental Impact
An interesting feature of the plant is that it generates about 60% of its electricity needs from the sludge produced during the treatment process, making the operation more sustainable.
Main Laboratory and Monitoring
The minister also visited the main laboratory, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for daily water quality tests. Engineer Abdel Wahab Helmy, the plant’s director, emphasized the importance of precise monitoring to ensure the treated water meets environmental standards.
Minister’s Remarks
Minister El-Shorbiny praised the work done at the plant and highlighted the importance of continuous maintenance and regular monitoring of its components to maximize the plant’s efficiency and its contribution to environmental preservation.
