The world’s largest membrane-based wastewater filtration project and GE’s first major water project in the Middle East was inaugurated in Kuwait last month.

The new Sulaibiya wastewater treatment plant, built in a partnership with the Kuwaiti government in technical collaboration with a consortium of companies that include GE Infrastructure’s Water and Process Technologies, Ionics and local partner Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons Company, will purify more than one million gallons of wastewater (375,000 cu m/day) each day for use in agricultural and industrial uses.
“GE is proud to work with the Kuwaiti government and Kharafi Group to address the water needs for the people of Kuwait. The Sulaibiya plant is the first step in building solutions for tomorrow,” said Lynne Rowland, marketing director of GE’s desalination platform, during the inauguration. 
In order to address the growing demand for its water and energy technologies, GE has been investing in the region with major offices now located throughout the Middle East.  Company representatives say that its water technology is one of the company’s fastest growing segments in the Middle East.
GE’s world-class infrastructure technology and its expertise in financing and management make it uniquely qualified to help build the region’s energy, transportation, water and healthcare capabilities and establish a foundation for lasting growth. 
Currently, countries in the Middle East produce more than one half of the world’s desalinated water and experts predict this to increase in the water stressed region.  
The Sulaibiya facility will use reverse osmosis (RO) technology, which is well proven for desalinating municipal effluent. The salinity of the municipal effluent has an average monthly value of 1,280 mg/l total dissolved solids (TDS), with a maximum value of 3,014 mg/l.  RO will be used to desalinate the water to 100 mg/l TDS, as well as provide a second barrier to bacteria and viruses.
Since this is a build, own, operate and maintain contract, the consortium will also be responsible for running the plant once construction is complete. GE will operate the water reclamation facility. The purified water will be used for non-potable uses that are currently competing with the drinking water supply, thus ensuring that the citizens of Kuwait have adequate water.
By combining GE and Ionics’ technologies, engineering resources, global management capabilities and financial offerings, the company is positioned as a leader in the desalination and water reuse segment serving municipal and industrial customers.  The company can develop customised solutions that utilise desalination and water reuse techn- ologies  for municipal and industrial applications.