Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has awarded French engineering firm Egis two wastewater contracts.

The first contract is for an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract to rehabilitate Karaana lagoon.

Located in the Al-Rayyan region, west of Doha, the Al-Karaana lagoon covers more than 4 square kilometres and is causing serious environmental problems. Almost 60,000 cubic metres of untreated wastewater a day is discharged onto this site by tanker, contaminating it.

The lagoon will be eradicated and the site redeveloped.

The consultancy work involves studies on the polluted water and appropriate methods to evacuate and treat it, designs, preparation and evaluation of tender documents and construction supervision.

The length of the contract is 23 months.

Local Protec is currently operating a 10,000 cubic metres a day temporary package treatment plant at Karaana Lagoon, which treats tankered sewage.

Ashghal have also awarded Egis a contract for design review and construction supervision works on the extension of the Doha West wastewater treatment and recycling plant.

The length of the contract is 29 months.

The $178m contract to expand the facility was awarded to France’s Degremont and Japan’s Marubeni Corporation in late 2014. The plant’s capacity will be increased to 280,000 cubic metres a day.

Egis will also provide consultancy services for Um al-Houl Economic Zone.