Title: Economic viability and analysis of wastewater treatment processes in Kuwait

Authors: Jasem M. Alhumoud; Ibrahim M. Alhumoud

Addresses: Civil Engineering Department, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, Kuwait ' Public Law Department, College of Law, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, Kuwait

Abstract: A full and comprehensive economic analysis of wastewater treatment is a prerequisite for ensuring long-term economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The aim of this study is to improve the economic evaluation of treated wastewater reuse. In 2001, the Government of Kuwait built an advanced wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at Sulaibiya. This plant is designed to treat up to 375 million imperial gallons (IG) of water, but the volume can be extended to 600 million IG. This WWTP is the first of to be built in the Middle East and is the largest plant worldwide that uses a combination of ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) for water purification. The UF step removes all suspended solids and promotes a substantial reduction in microbiological contaminants. We identify and compare the advantages and costs between using treated wastewater and desalinated fresh water. We show that while treatment costs are highly dependent on the incoming effluent quality and plant size, the benefits and advantages are reasonably high.

Keywords: economic; cost; wastewater reuse; reverse osmosis; RO; ultrafiltration; UF; wastewater treatment plant; WWTP.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2021.111904

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2021 Vol.27 No.1, pp.21 - 34

Received: 30 Oct 2018
Accepted: 04 Jun 2019
Published online: 21 Dec 2020 *

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