The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has completed the first phase of the ‘Odour Management Programme’ for drainage assets to offer a healthy and safe environment for the people in Qatar.
The Odour Management Programme for drainage includes an advanced technology for detecting, monitoring and treating foul odours.. It aims to enhance customer satisfaction and improve quality of services, through proactive plans in dealing with customers’ complaints in the known hotspot locations.
Mr. Nasser Al-Yami, Assistant Manager of Drainage Operation and Maintenance Department (DNO&M) clarified this initiative saying: “At Ashghal, we believe in our commitment to provide long-lasting solutions that would contribute to the improvement of quality of life in Qatar. This is in line with one of the four pillars of the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 represented in environmental development through provision of environment friendly solutions to the problems related to foul odours.”
He added, “This plan, which was launched in 2018, is divided into three phases covering a period of five to seven years. The first phase is completed, where the number of customer complaints got reduced by 34% in key districts of Doha such as Ain Khaled, Hazm Al Markhiya and Dahl Al Hamam. The odour management system is expected to give long-lasting results in the affected areas and in the community at large.”
The rolled-out real-time odour monitoring system is a valuable component in Ashghal’s Drainage Network Management Centre (DNMC), helping Ashghal succeed in resolving customer complaints within the first phase in locations where foul odours exist.
The programme will also support Qatar in its preparation to host the 2022 FIFA World CupTM, and in meeting the requirements of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
Mr. Al-Yami further explained that Ashghal has succeeded in moving towards improving and enhancing the services provided to its customers by adopting a new work mechanism to monitor and respond to potential foul odours proactively, and using a system of odour control to monitor the safety of networks and pumping stations, and take necessary measures.
Worth to be mentioned that Ashghal’s integrated ‘Odour Management Programme’ is considered as the first of its kind, eco-friendly and cost saving mechanismas it does not need periodical maintenance. It encompasses odour abatement and monitoring in parallel with streams of work.
This approach adopted by Ashghal has been showcased at international dedicated for odour management and received commendable applaud from industry specialists in the Europe and UK.