Al Ansab MBR Sewage

Treatment Plant - Step

Towards Greener
Muscat

M.S. Alhakawati, K. Al
Badi, H. Al Jabri, Omar
Al Wahaibi

Oman Wastewater
Services Company
PO Box 1047, Al
Khuwair, PC 133,
Muscat, Oman

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Darsait STP
(50,000 m3/d) Muscat
Wastewater
Scheme
Project
Auzaiba CPS

Proposed Al
Amerat STP
As Seeb STP (10,000 m3/d)
Al Ansab STP
(80,000 m3/d)
(85,000 m3/d)

Proposed Al Proposed
Hajir STP Quriyat STP
Centralized
(1,100 m3/d) (5,600 m3/d)
Sludge
Composting
Facility

6
Total governorate/concession area = 3,900 km2
5 Provinces, 6 Catchments with 6 major STPs

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Existing and New Greater Muscat TE Distribution Networks

Seeb STP
Darsait STP
80,000 m3/day
50,000 m3/day

Al Ansab STP
85,000 m3/day

Existing TE distribution network

New TE distribution network

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Preliminary
Biological Treatment
Treatment

Existing Plant

Al Ansab STP
Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 Raw
Sewage

Screening Grit
Removal Aerobic Reactor Clarifier

RAS

Existing Plant (design capacity = 12,000 m3/day), tankered sewage

De-Ox Anoxic

Raw
Sewage

Pre- Screening Aerated Anoxic Aerobic Membrane

aeration Grit Reactor Reactor Tank
Removal
RAS

New Plant (First Phase = 55,000 m3/day), network

Oman sewage
Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 New Plant: Head Work (Preliminary Treatment)

Blower
Room Aerated Grit/Grease Fine Screens
Removal Tanks

Sludge Pre-aeration Tanks

Holding
Electrical
Tanks

Screenings/Grit
Chemicals Handling

Dewatering
Influent
To Biological Flow
System

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Pre-Aeration Tanks

Odor Control Scrubbers

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Fine Screens

Screenings Bins

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Grit Chamber

Grease Chamber

Grit Chamber

Grease Chamber

Grease Chamber

Grit Chamber

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 New Plant: Secondary & Tertiary

Anoxic Tanks
Aeration Tanks
Membrane Tanks

Total footprint of treatment tanks is 150m x 50m = 7,500 m2

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 200 flat sheet membrane panels in each deck

38 Double Deck Membrane Unit in each Membrane Tank

8 Membranes Tanks x 38 Double Deck Membrane Unit = 304 DDMU
304 DDMU X 400 Panels = 121,600 Flat Sheet Membrane Panels

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
Design Criteria
Parameter Units MBR Influent MBR Effluent set MBR supplier Class A (agricultural Oman drinking
Design Values and expected Effluent values irrigation water standard
values* guarantee* permissible limits)
(145/93)
Minimum Flow rate m3/d 18,222 - - - -
Average Flow rate m3/d 55,246 - - - -
Max daily Flow rate m3/d 76,821 - - - -
Membrane type Kubota EK400, chlorinated polyethylene material and 0.4 m pore size
Flux rate 0.9 m3/m2.day (900 L/m2.day)
BOD mg/l 312 5 10 15 Zero
TSS mg/l 228 5 10 15 Zero
Total N as N mg/l 50 8 9 21.3 -
NH3 as N mg/l 30 1 1 5 -
Organic N as N mg/l 19 0 0 5 -
NO3 as N mg/l 1 7 8 11.3 11.3
Total P as P mg/l 10 - - 30 -
pH - 68 - - 6-9 -
Effluent Temp (min) o C 25 - - - -
Effluent Temp (max) o C 36 - - - -
Fats, Oils & Grease mg/l 50 - - 0.5 -
Total alkalinity (as mg/l 249 150 - - -
CaCO3)
Faecal Coliforms MPN/100 ml - 2.2 2.2 200 Zero
Viable Helminth Ova Number /L - 1 1 1 Zero
Turbidity NTU - 0.5 - - -
* 95% of all effluent samples taken must comply and sampling may be as frequent as hourly

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Commissioning: Headwork
2 Pre-aeration Tanks; 2 Screens; 1 Grit Removal Tank

Pre-Aeration
Screens Tanks

Influent
Grit/Grease
Removal Tanks

To
Biological
Treatment

Flow = 10,000 m3/d

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Commissioning: Secondary & Tertiary Treatment
1 Anoxic Reactor; 1 Aerobic Reactor; 2 Membrane Tanks

Membrane Cassette Tanks Aerobic Reactor Anoxic De-ox

Reactor Zone

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Concentration (mg/l)
Concentration (mg/l)

100
200
300
400
500
600
700
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000

0
6:00 AM
8:00 AM
10:00 AM

6:00 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
6:00 PM

8:00 PM
Influent tankered sewage
8:00 PM
7:00 AM
9:00 AM

6:00 AM
11:00 AM
1:00 PM
3:00 PM
5:00 PM

8:00 PM
7:00 PM
Tim e

6:00 AM

Tim e
8:00 AM
10:00 AM

6:00 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
6:00 PM
8:00 PM

8:00 PM
7:00 AM
9:00 AM
6:00 AM

11:00 AM
1:00 PM
3:00 PM
TSS

5:00 PM
BOD

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

8:00 PM

7:00 PM
 Concentration (mg/l) Concentration (mg/l)

0
20
40
60
80
100
120

0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
6:00 AM 6:00 AM
8:00 AM 8:00 AM
10:00 AM 10:00 AM
12:00 PM 12:00 PM
2:00 PM 2:00 PM
4:00 PM 4:00 PM
6:00 PM 6:00 PM

Influent tankered sewage

8:00 PM 8:00 PM
7:00 AM 7:00 AM
9:00 AM 9:00 AM
11:00 AM 11:00 AM
1:00 PM 1:00 PM
3:00 PM 3:00 PM
5:00 PM 5:00 PM
7:00 PM 7:00 PM
6:00 AM 6:00 AM
Tim e

8:00 AM 8:00 AM

Tim e
10:00 AM 10:00 AM
12:00 PM 12:00 PM
2:00 PM 2:00 PM
4:00 PM 4:00 PM
6:00 PM 6:00 PM
8:00 PM 8:00 PM
7:00 AM 7:00 AM
9:00 AM 9:00 AM
11:00 AM 11:00 AM
1:00 PM 1:00 PM
3:00 PM 3:00 PM
5:00 PM 5:00 PM
Am m onia

Alkalinity

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

7:00 PM 7:00 PM
 Degree C pH units

27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5

6:00 AM 6:00 AM
8:00 AM 8:00 AM
10:00 AM 10:00 AM
12:00 PM 12:00 PM
2:00 PM 2:00 PM
4:00 PM 4:00 PM
6:00 PM 6:00 PM

Influent tankered sewage

8:00 PM 8:00 PM
7:00 AM 7:00 AM
9:00 AM 9:00 AM
11:00 AM 11:00 AM
1:00 PM 1:00 PM
3:00 PM 3:00 PM
5:00 PM 5:00 PM
7:00 PM 7:00 PM
6:00 AM 6:00 AM
Tim e

Tim e
8:00 AM 8:00 AM
10:00 AM 10:00 AM
12:00 PM 12:00 PM
2:00 PM 2:00 PM
4:00 PM 4:00 PM
6:00 PM 6:00 PM
8:00 PM 8:00 PM
7:00 AM 7:00 AM
9:00 AM 9:00 AM
11:00 AM 11:00 AM
1:00 PM 1:00 PM
3:00 PM 3:00 PM
pH

5:00 PM 5:00 PM
Tem p

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

7:00 PM 7:00 PM
 TSS Ammonia Alkalinity pH Temperature
100.00%
90.00%
80.00%
Percent range of values

70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Raw 2-hour EQ 3-hour EQ 4-hour EQ 6-hour EQ

Equalization of influent Equalization (hours) Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

tankered sewage
24-hour composite samples influent tankered sewage
Parameter 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 April Average Design % over
April 2007 April 2007 April 2007 2007 (7 am value design
(7 am 6 (7 am 6 (7 am 6 6 am) value
am) am) am)
BOD5 381 478 347 363 392.25 312 25.7%
TSS 428 288 375 285 344 228 50.8%
pH 6.45 6.91 7.00 6.76 6.78 68 -
Ammonia 51.63 50.22 46.24 49.11 49.3 30 64.3%
Nitrogen
Alkalinity 290 295 295 320 300 249 -

Simple calculation show that loading is 37% more than the design load
10,000 m3/day of tankered sewage is equivalent to 13,700 m3/day
of normal domestic sewage (i.e. design values)

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Biological treatment as on 25th December 2007.

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Installation of piping work in membrane Tank 7

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Installation of piping work in membrane Tank 8

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Air & Permeate Header Piping outside membrane Tanks 5

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Installation of Air Headers above biological aeration tanks

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Installation of PD Blowers

Installation of Air Centrifugal Blowers

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Operation Center (Handed over) as on 27th January 2008.

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

Conclusion
1. Muscat is planning for full reuse of the treated wastewater (irrigation,
industry, crops production, aquifer recharge)
2. Al Ansab STP is the largest MBR wastewater treatment plant in the world up
to date with a first phase capacity of 55,000 m3/day and second phase
capacity of 85,000 m3/day.
3. The plant is the biggest wastewater treatment plant in Muscat and will
provide Muscat with third of its requirement for landscape and beautification
irrigation up to 2025.
4. The plant is tailored made to install Reverse Osmosis (RO) after the micro-
filtration membranes. This will help in producing drinking water quality
whenever it is required.

Recommendation to the Conference

1. Complete reuse of the treated wastewater in the GCC region.
2. Wastewater companies should adopt membranes technologies for the
treatment (Micro & Ultra filtration) as they are the best technologies for water
recycling.

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Raw
Sewage

De-ox Anoxic Membrane Permeate

Aerobic Reactor
Zone Reactor Tank
DO DO DO DO
<0.5 >1.0 >2.0
0.5 mg/L mg/L mg/L
mg/L

Recirculation Flow
35Q

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Partial Operation 1/1/2

0.250

2000 mg/L

0.200 3000 mg/L

4000 mg/L
5000 mg/L
6000 mg/L
0.150
7000 mg/L
F/M

8000 mg/L
9000 mg/L
0.100 10000 mg/L
11000 mg/L
12000 mg/L

0.050 13000 mg/L

-
1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
Flow, m3/d
Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 Biological Treatment
Aerobic Reactors
Oxidation: BOD + O2 CO2 + H2O
Aerobes

Nitrification: NH4+ +O2 Aerobes

NO2- + NO3- +H2O
Anoxic Reactors
Denitrification: NO3- + O= Autotrophs
N2 +H2O
Anaerobic Reactors
Phosphorus Adsorption: PO4 O2 + TSS
Poly-P
Organisms

Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C

 Figure 11. Equalized Influent Temperature
March 26 - 29, 2006

37.0

35.0

33.0
Deg C

Raw Samples
6-hours EQ
31.0

29.0

27.0
PM

PM

PM

PM
AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM
0

0
00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00
:0

:0

:0

:0
6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:
Sample Time
Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 Figure 10. Equalized Influent Alkalinity
March 26 - 29, 2006

850

750

650
CaCO3 mg/L

550 Raw Samples

6-hours EQ

450

350

250
PM

PM

PM

PM
AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM
0

0
00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00
:0

:0

:0

:0
6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:
Sample Time
Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 Figure 9. Equalized Influent TSS
March 26 - 29, 2006

1600

1400

1200

1000
TSS, mg/L

Raw Samples
800
6-hours EQ

600

400

200

0
PM

PM

PM

PM
AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM
0

0
0
00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00
:0

:0

:0

:0
0
6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:
Sample Time Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 Figure 8. Equalized Influent pH
March 26 - 29, 2006

9.5

9.0

8.5

8.0

7.5
Raw Samples
pH

6-hours EQ
7.0

6.5

6.0

5.5

5.0
PM

PM

PM

PM
AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM

AM

12 AM

PM

PM
0

0
00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00
:0

:0

:0

:0
6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:

6:

9:

3:

6:
Sample Time
Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
 NH3-N, mg/L
6:
00
A

25
35
45
55
65
75
85
95
105
9: M
00
12 AM
:0
0
P
3: M
00
P
6: M
00
P
6: M
00
A
9: M
00
12 AM
:0
0
P
3: M
00
P
6: M
00
P
6: M
00
A
9: M
00
12 AM
:0
0

Time of Sample
P
3: M
00
P
March 26 - 29, 2006

6: M
00
P
6: M
00
A
Figure 7. Equalized Influent Ammonia

9: M
00
12 AM
:0
0
P
3: M
00
P
6: M
00
PM
Oman Wastewater Services Company S.A.O.C
6 Hours EQ
Raw Samples