Local municipalities in the UAE are responsible for managing, disposing and treatment of wastewater. To match with the steep rise in sewage generation as a direct effect of increase in the UAE's population, the government is investing in upgrading and extending sewer systems to ensure a sustainable sewage disposal and treatment system. Some of these projects are mentioned below by emirate.

Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi, Sustainable Water Solutions Holding Company - (SWS Holding) is in charge of collecting and treating waste-water discharged from all residential and commercial customers. In 2009, SWS  launched an AED 5.7 billion (USD 1.6 billion) Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP), which includes building 41 km of deep sewer tunnels.

In 2014, an ambitious environmental plan was revealed to treat and re-use all of the emirate's wastewater to irrigate farms and parks within four years.

Dubai

Dubai is planning to get a new deep tunnel sewerage system costing AED 12.5 billion in the next five years, to replace more than 121 sewerage pumping stations. The new deep tunnel system makes use of gravity for the collection of sewage.

In addition, a project to expand the Jebel Ali sewerage plant has been approved and will cost AED 1.3 billion. When it is completed, it will serve 1.35 million people and will bring the plant's capacity to 675,000 cubic metres daily, which is double its current capacity.

Sharjah

Sharjah Municipality opened a new underground sewerage treatment plant in April 2012 to cater for residential areas, in addition to the AED 227 million sewerage treatment plant at Al Sajaa area. The main sewerage treatment plant at the fifth industrial area will undergo an expansion to increase its capacity from 30, 000 cubic metres to 50,000 cubic metres daily.

Ajman

Ajman had its first sewerage treatment network in 2009, which was built by Ajman Sewage Company, one of the first sewage projects' PPPs in the region.

Ras Al Khaimah

In Ras Al Khaimah, Public Services Department handles management of wastewater. Following urbanisation, local governments are investing in upgrading and extensions of sewer systems.

Useful links:

• Sewage services- Dubai Municipality