Muscat – Nama Water Services has embarked on an endeavour to implement cutting-edge engineering projects for wastewater treatment, marking a significant step towards achieving Oman’s long-term strategic objectives. The initiative aligns with the Sultanate’s vision to mitigate groundwater depletion and bolster environmental sanitation efforts by expanding green spaces and irrigating crops with treated water.

Abdul Karim bin Mohammed bin Zahir Al Hinai, Senior Director of Operations and Maintenance Operations at Nama Water Services, highlighted the pivotal role of the ongoing projects, mainly the endeavour to supply the Shakkhayt area in Barka State with treated water. Collaborating closely with the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries, and Water Resources, this initiative aims to harness treated water for agricultural irrigation, conserving groundwater reserves and fostering agricultural productivity.

The Shakkhayt project, with an investment of RO 2 million and 300 thousand, entails the installation of an extensive network spanning over 40 kilometres to deliver treated water to 60 farms in its initial phase. As part of its expansion plans, Nama Water Services envisions extending the treated water network to encompass more than 200 farms, aligning with Oman Vision 2040 objectives and the Ministry’s agricultural growth and food security enhancement plans.

Underlining the collaborative efforts between Nama Water Services and agricultural stakeholders, Al Hinai emphasized the importance of raising farmers’ awareness about the benefits of treated water usage and soil management practices. Moreover, the company is actively exploring additional projects, including collaborations with Al-Amerat station and Barka station, to expand the reach of treated water delivery for agricultural purposes further.

Farmers benefiting from the initiative expressed optimism about its transformative impact on agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Sultan bin Rashid Al Kalbani, a beneficiary, lauded the project’s role in revitalizing farms and bolstering local food production to meet market demands. Similarly, Hamoud bin Saif Al-Raqqadi emphasized the project’s potential to rejuvenate farming areas and enhance crop cultivation amid groundwater scarcity challenges.