Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has awarded the US’ CH2M Hill a contract to work on design of the Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy (IDRIS) programme.

The contract, which is worth QR225m ($62m), covers a raft of management services for the wastewater scheme and has been awarded following a competitive tender. As programme management consultant (PMC), CH2M Hill will work on the concept design and preliminary design, and also manage the design and construction consultants.

The IDRIS programme will provide new municipal drainage and wastewater treatment facilities for the Doha South area extending from the Souq Waqif area to the southern districts of Doha. The estimated capital cost of the programme is between QR8-10bn. The programme will be implemented over seven years and is scheduled for completion in 2019.

The IDRIS programme is the final scheme in the long-term wastewater treatment facilities planned for Doha. A new wastewater treatment plant at Doha North is under construction, extensions to the Doha West plant will be completed in 2012 and construction of a new treatment facility to the south of Doha will be implemented by 2019.

A tunnelled transfer scheme is envisaged to reduce the number of existing pumping stations. The programme will include treated sewage effluent transfer mains and pumping stations to ensure that recycled water can be used for irrigation and non-potable purposes.