Work is moving ahead of schedule on the sewage treatment plant (STP) in southern Makkah for the Ministry of Water's Makkah Branch.

The SR203 million ($54 million) plant has been designed to have an average flow rate of 250,000-cu m per day with a peak flow of 375,000-cu m per day. It consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary sludge treatment plants. The 24-month project is expected to be completed by June 2004.

The bulk of the works will be executed during the last phase of the project, involving the main sewage treatment plant and aeration lagoons.

Design, procurement and fabrication of special equipment are currently ongoing. The Abuttair Consulting Office of Riyadh is the consultant for the project and the contract was awarded to Bin Jarallah Group for Contracting Company, a member of Bin Jarallah Group of Companies.