HH The Amir launched mammoth water security reservoirs project in Umm Salal

Ever since the start of the illegal siege more than a year ago, Qatar has been steadily marching towards making itself self sufficient.

After achieving self sufficiency in agricultural and milk production, the country is moving swiftly towards making itself water-sufficient.

Water Strategic Mega Reservoirs Project:
The world largest reservoir equals 9 football fields and 180 Olympic swimming pool.#KAHRAMAA#WaterSecurity#Qatar#BetterLiving#KM_Achievements2018#QNV2030 pic.twitter.com/iEFfOHrP3z

— KAHRAMAA (@kahramaa) December 11, 2018

As part of the grand plan, HH The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project yesterday, reported Gulf Times.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) building in Umm Salal Ali area.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, a number of ministers and senior officials in the energy, industry, electricity and water sectors were present.

Ashghal President said that the Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project enables Qatar to meet challenges of freshwater shortages and demonstrates that the wise leadership takes into account the national security of the country by providing the largest water reservoir in the world.

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) December 11, 2018

The Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project is expected to allow Qatar to overcome challenges of freshwater shortages in the future, Ashghal President Dr Saad bin Ahmad Al Mohannadi was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.

A short film, highlighting the project;’s strategic importance, was displayed during the opening ceremony.

The project, which is the largest of its kind in the world, has a total capacity of about 1,500m gallons of water, reported The Peninsula.

“This is the largest of its kind project in the world and contains a huge strategic reservoir that raises the country’s water storage to about 1,500m gallons, which is roughly an increase of 150%,” said Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi.

Minister of State for Energy Affairs of #Qatar said that the strategic Water Security Mega Reservoirs Project in Qatar is the largest in the world, contain a huge strategic reservoir that raises the country's water storage by about 150% and is worth QR 14.5 billion.
pic.twitter.com/89CFo1GWNN

— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) December 11, 2018

The total capacity of the reservoirs is expected to cover Qatar’s water storage requirements up to 2026. The future stages will help meet Qatar’s water demands even after 2036.

The project marks the largest-ever expansion of Qatar’s water storage capacity. The project is located in five strategic sites — Umm Birka, Umm Salal, Rawdat Rashed, Abu Nakhla, and Al Thumama. Each site covers roughly one square kilometre each, reported Qatar Tribune. 

The project consists of 15 of the world’s largest concrete reservoirs. Each of them are 300M long, 150M wide, and 12M high.

This Water security Mega project is the largest in the world and contain a huge strategic reservoir that raises the country's water storage to about 1,500 million gallons, an increase of 150%. pic.twitter.com/GSYyAt2t7p

— IstandWithQatar.org (@IstandWithQatar) December 11, 2018

Kahraama has also installed over 650km of large diameter pipelines connecting the desalination plants in the north and the south of the country, together with the five sites to ensure water flow in both directions with operational flexibility to meet any emergency. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around QR14.5bn.

The sites of the reservoirs were selected based on a thorough study. The sites at Rawdat Rashed is located at the highest point of project route to allow the water to flow using gravitational energy at times of emergency without using electric power. 

The five sites are designed to allow future expansion and the construction of additional reservoirs without the need to install more pipelines.

To avoid water stagnation, the interior design of the reservoir allows water movement from entry to exit without electric power. Moreover, water quality is monitored around the clock using state-of-the-art technologies.