In going about our everyday lives, each person in Abu Dhabi generates approximately 275 litres of wastewater each day which contains a range of chemical and microbiological pollutants. The characteristics of wastewater are closely related to the catchment and are heavily influenced by industrial and commercial discharges. The water returned to sewer (RTS) is only 30% of the water supplied to a typical household because most of the desalinated water supplied is used for external uses such as irrigation, swimming pools and car washing.

A wastewater collection network receives wastewater from domestic, commercial and industrial buildings and conveys it to the wastewater treatment works. It is typically made up of small diameter (<200mmØ) local networks which discharge into a large diameter (<400mmØ) trunk sewers that convey the wastewater to the treatment plant.

There are three types of collection networks operated in the Emirate:

(a) Gravity sewers are the most common and simple systems. They use gravity to convey wastewater away from the point of discharge.

(b) Vacuum sewers are relatively new and used where ground conditions are difficult. Wastewater is sucked away from the point of discharge by an air flow.

(c) Pressure systems are typically used in conjunction with gravity systems to avoid deep excavations. Wastewater is pressurised by a pump and passed through a rising main to a point of discharge.

ADSSC operates over 250 pumping stations and 6800km of sewers and rising mains across the Emirate.

The discharge of non-domestic wastewater into public collection systems is controlled through the Trade Effluent Control Regulations 2010 and supported by codes of practice for a range of low risk trade effluents.

For our online Wastewater Regulations Compliance Guide, please click here link to http://www.rsbwastewater.gov.ae/]