Nearly energy self-sufficient treatment and recycling of wastewater in the region of Amman, Jordan
The recycling of wastewater is a key component of Jordan's water strategy.
In Jordan, in a backdrop of water scarcity and high demographic growth, recycling wastewater is of capital importance to supply populations and irrigate crops.
In 2003, Jordan's minister for water and irrigation decided to modernise and update the old saturated, pond stabilisation system in As Samra, focusing on three priorities:
- produce treated wastewater of high quality to reduce the use of drinking water for agricultural and industrial purposes
- Return high quality water to the natural environment
- Reduce site energy consumption.
Located in a desert area a few km from the capital city Amman, the new As Samra plant must treat the wastewater of 2.2 million inhabitants and meet the needs of the region's agricultural and industrial users.
A high-capacity plant, almost self-sufficient in terms of energy
SUEZ has had operations in the country since 1997. It was awarded the Build, Operate and Transfer contract for the plant extension. This 25-year contract is like a public-private partnership.
SUEZ combined several solutions for this plant, in order to optimise:
- wastewater treatment
- production of renewable energies on site
- energy recovery from sludge.
Enhance wastewater treatment capacity
The As Samra plant was designed to treat 100 million m3 of water annually, with appropriate and efficient systems:
- primary and secondary settling tanks,
- aeration and clarification tanks,
- solar drying beds,
- odour control system.
In 2012, Jordan's government once again demonstrated its trust in us to expand the plant and operate it until 2037. The capacity of the plant was therefore extended from 267,000 to 365,000 m3 /day, making it the largest and most modern wastewater treatment plant in the country.
Generate its own power
The new plant produces almost all of its operating power, through:
- biogas from sludge digestion
- electricity from hydroelectric turbines.
Recover residual sludge
Drying the residual sludge on site means it can be transformed into granule form and used as fuel or fertiliser.