(MENAFN- Arab News) FCC Aqualia has secured a contract comprising the operation and maintenance of the two largest wastewater treatment plants in Makkah in consortium with the local company Alkhorayef Water and Power Company. The wastewater treatment plants in Hadda and Arana treat an average water flow of 250000 m3 and a have a maximum capacity to treat 375000 m3. The contract will run for three years and has a business portfolio of 20 million euros.
Makkah has a stable population of 1.5 million people growing considerably higher during visits by pilgrims. It is estimated that around 13 million annual visits occur each year and that the maximum sporadic influx throughout the month of Ramadan (during Haj festivities) is between 4 million and 5 million people. This situation creates significant variations in the water flow from the source to the treatment plants.
With this new contract the third since the subsidiary began in Riyadh in 2011 FCC Aqualia has firmly established itself in the Middle East in particular in the Saudi Arabian market.
The consortium between both companies will be jointly responsible for: The operation and maintenance of treatment facilities and units including workshops laboratories electrical installations service road status security systems supply sanitation and drainage projects within the facilities environmental maintenance of the facilities laboratory team and conducting analyses.
This project falls within the framework of the program carried out by Saudi Arabian authorities which aims to transform and modernize the country's water cycle management. In this context the Saudi state water company National Water Company (NWC) is significantly improving the operation and performance of the sector via the incorporation of international companies that are specialized in operation and maintenance.