The Public Drinking Water Establishment of Damascus and Damascus Countryside officially inaugurated a new water purification station in the town of Adra al-Jadida, marking a significant step toward improving drinking water quality for tens of thousands of residents in the region.
Addressing High Nitrate Levels
Director of the Establishment, Ahmad Darwish, confirmed that the project was implemented with Czech cooperation and financial support. It includes the construction of two water treatment and pumping stations, one in Adra al-Jadida and the other in the town of Yalda in Damascus Countryside, at a cost of approximately $415,000 for each station.
Darwish explained that groundwater in both towns had become unfit for human consumption due to high nitrate concentrations, creating an urgent need for purification facilities, well rehabilitation, and measures to ensure the safety of drinking water.
Expanding Access and Sustainable Operation
The project directly benefits around 10,000 residents in Adra al-Jadida and about 50,000 in Yalda. To ensure sustainable and cost-effective operation, plans are underway to equip the stations with solar energy systems to power wells and treatment units. In addition, a water storage tank will be installed in each town to increase reserve capacity.
In Yalda, the project includes building the new purification station, maintaining the existing water network, installing a new 1,500-meter pipeline, and rehabilitating an elevated water tank with a capacity of 300 cubic meters.
Speaking to Levant 24, Muhammad al-Shehabi, a 45-year-old agronomist living in Yalda, said that during the war the Assad regime’s bombardment damaged water and wastewater networks, leading to dangerous leaks and the contamination of drinking water.
He noted that following Syria’s liberation, the return of thousands of families to Yalda placed additional pressure on water sources. He stressed that the Czech-funded station and the rehabilitation of water infrastructure will significantly help families access clean and safe drinking water.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Upgrade
The Damascus Water Establishment recently signed an agreement with the Czech Embassy in Damascus to implement the two drinking water treatment projects as part of a broader effort to fundamentally improve water quality.
Beyond the purification plants themselves, the project includes maintenance of existing distribution networks and the installation of new pipelines, forming part of a comprehensive plan to modernize water infrastructure and enhance public health in Damascus Countryside.
