Three wastewater treatment plants are under construction in Kurdestan Province, director of the provincial Water and Wastewater Company said.
“The projects are underway in Kamyaran, Divandareh and Dehgolan and will cost $1 million,” Mehr News Agency quoted Mohammad Hussein Mohammadi as saying.
When operational, the three plants will cover a population of over 160,000 in the western region, he added, without giving an exact timing for the completion of the projects.
Currently eight wastewater treatment plants are operating in Kurdestan with a total capacity of treating 203,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day.
There are also programs to increase the capacity of plants already operating in the province, which would help improve the sector, he said.
The expansion program will underpin farming in the fertile region as recycled wastewater will be used to till the soil.
Kurdistan is one of the country's most important agricultural hubs, producing wheat, peas, potato and strawberry among others.
Average annual agro production in Kurdish region is approximately 2.9 million tons.
One main aim of wastewater treatment is to remove as much of the suspended solids as possible before the remaining water (effluent) is discharged back to the environment. As solid material decays, it uses up oxygen, which is needed by plants and animals living in the water.
Processed wastewater is a reliable source for the industrial and agro sectors. Now 232 wastewater treatment plants are operating in Iran.
Approximately 7.5 billion cubic meters of usable water is produced annually, of which 4.3 bcm is wasted.
If wastewater is not properly treated it can have dire consequences for human health and the environment.
Water Network
Regarding expansion of water distribution network in Kurdestan, Mohammadi said, “last year (ended in March) 43 kilometers of pipes were laid and 27.5 km in the network were repaired.”
The province has five water treatment plants with a capacity of 304,000 cubic meters of water per day, supplying the entire urban population and most rural areas via a 5,000-km distribution system.
Two more water treatment plants are under construction, which will add 21,000 cubic meters of fresh water a day to the current capacity.
“Improvement and expansion of water network is aimed at preventing wastage, stabilizing the network, sustaining water supply, meeting the needs of new subscribers and covering new towns,” Mohammadi was quoted as saying.
Kurdestan Province is one of the most mountainous regions in Iran and has a generally mild climate in spring and summer. Winters are long and can be very cold with heavy snowfalls and 1.6 million people live in this region.
Of the total 1,677 villages in the province, 1,542 are connected to the water network and have access to potable water.
