Malé Water and Sewerage Company Limited (MWSC) is preparing to begin work by the middle of next year on a project to produce water through a plant established 500 metres below the sea level, Managing Director Hussain Fahmy has said.
Managing Director Fahmy made the remarks while speaking on “Ahaashey Bunaanan”, a programme jointly presented by Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu and Television Maldives.
He said MWSC is undertaking several initiatives to strengthen the country's water system and expand services across the atolls. Among the major projects planned to further develop water services, he highlighted the project to produce water below the sea level as one of the most significant.
As part of the project, MWSC plans to establish a water plant 500 metres below the sea level in collaboration with an experienced Norwegian company that has achieved significant success in the field. MWSC has already signed an agreement for the project and is now conducting feasibility, technical and environmental studies.
The company expects to complete these stages and begin practical work by the middle of next year. Managing Director Fahmy said MWSC is first assessing the project's financial feasibility, including the level of investment required.
Explaining the advantages of the project, Managing Director Fahmy said it would improve energy efficiency and make it easier to discharge reject water into the sea. He said seawater obtained from a depth of 500 metres is very clean and cleaner than seawater drawn through boreholes, while also containing lower levels of organic metals. These factors would improve efficiency and reduce costs, he added.
Managing Director Fahmy also noted that the shortage of land presents a major challenge to establishing water plants on land. He said producing water below the sea would represent a significant advancement for an island nation such as the Maldives.
As similar work is being carried out successfully in Norway, MWSC plans to send a technical team there to observe the work and gain experience. Managing Director Fahmy said the initiative could develop into a major project and become an important undertaking that sets an example for the Maldives.
Alongside the deep-sea water project, MWSC is also working on plans to strengthen water supply between key islands. Managing Director Fahmy said the company has decided to lay pipelines alongside the Thilamalé Bridge to supply water to Malé and Hulhumalé. MWSC plans to establish a water storage system in either Thilafushi or Gulhifalhu and supply water from there to Malé and Hulhumalé.
Managing Director Fahmy said the network would require significant expenditure. MWSC is therefore holding discussions with the Government to begin the project by the time work on the Thilamalé Bridge is completed.