China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau Transportation Construction Company provides pictures

Kuwait is located in the desert, with high temperatures, little rainfall, and water scarcity throughout the year. Recently, during an interview with the South Ahmed New City infrastructure project undertaken by China Construction Sixth Bureau Transportation Construction Company, it was found that the most important task of the project at present is "water control".

One is to treat 'groundwater'. The new city is located near the Persian Gulf, and the project site is rich in seawater that has infiltrated underground. It is reported that the average depth of 1-2 meters below the ground level on site is groundwater. Once the foundation trench is excavated, seawater will gush out and fluctuate violently under the action of tides. The deepest point of the accumulated water reached 2.5 meters at one point. At the initial stage of entry, tidal groundwater caused the project construction to come to a standstill.

After multiple studies, the project ultimately developed six precipitation (lowering water level) schemes, which were applied to different working conditions. In order to protect the surrounding soil and ecological balance, the measure of "surface recharge" has also been adopted: a water tank is enclosed with sand near the precipitation pipe ditch to collect the groundwater extracted by the pumping station; These waters slowly seep into the ground through the surface, achieving a balance of groundwater; The residual water from infiltration is used as mixing water for roadbed and pipe trench backfilling, which also solves the problem of difficult water intake in desert areas. The project also has a set of small-scale seawater desalination equipment, which treats groundwater and uses it for concrete and other areas that require freshwater construction.

At a foundation trench construction site, the reporter saw two excavators working. A few meters away, a pile of sandy soil separates them, revealing half a meter deep infiltration water. The comparison perfectly illustrates that effectively managing groundwater is crucial for construction, "said Yang Guihu, the chief engineer of the project

The second is to treat 'rainwater'. Kuwait suffers from perennial drought and extreme scarcity of freshwater resources. Once it rains, this rainwater becomes a valuable resource. Meanwhile, if there is a lack of response measures to rainfall, desert cities often experience floods and waterlogging disasters. The collection, storage, and recycling of rainwater is an important aspect of the construction of South Ahmed New City. Yang Guihu said that China fully drew on China's mature sponge city technology in the design and construction process. Through BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology, visual modeling of underground pipelines is carried out to connect the rainwater system and irrigation system in the new urban area. First, collect rainwater into a water tank, and after sedimentation, filtration, and other treatments, use it through a pump system for irrigating green plants in the new city's green belts, parks, and other areas.

It is reported that in the construction of South Ahmed New City, Chinese enterprises will build nearly 7600 rainwater collection units, 9 rainwater treatment conversion systems, and lay over 264 kilometers of rainwater pipelines, with a recycling and treatment capacity of over 65000 cubic meters. After one full storage, it can meet the irrigation water demand of 50 acres of green plants for one year. The rainwater collection system built by Chinese enterprises will to some extent improve the local ecological environment, alleviate water scarcity, and create a greener and more comfortable living environment for Kuwaiti residents, "said Isam Jaber, a quality engineer at the Kuwait Housing and Welfare Agency

The third is to treat 'sewage'. The collection and treatment of domestic sewage is equally important. After completion in February 2027, the project will provide a modern living environment for at least 100000 residents. The project considers combining sewage treatment and reuse during design. After sedimentation treatment, the future domestic sewage will be pumped to the green belt through a pump station for use as fertilizer, and the treated reclaimed water will also be used for the irrigation system of the new city. It is reported that the project will lay over 260 kilometers of sewage pipelines and have a recycling and treatment capacity of over 50000 cubic meters. Currently, there are over 1400 people working on the project site, and the campsite generates a large amount of domestic sewage on a daily basis. The project department has introduced Chinese sewage purification equipment to treat the sewage from the workers' living area and use it for on-site concrete mixing, maintenance, and other purposes.

Faced with three "water control" challenges, Chinese enterprises have solved them one by one, demonstrating their hardcore strength in the field of construction and design. The infrastructure project of South Ahmed New City in Kuwait covers an area of 52.79 square kilometers. Project manager Zhu Xingang stated that in the future, the project will further construct substations, power communication, and community roads. The Chinese side will ensure high-quality performance and showcase a good brand image. Mohammad Abbas, the representative of the project owner, said, "The implementation of the project will greatly alleviate the housing pressure in the old town of Ahmed. The efforts of Chinese enterprises in the project are admirable." (Reporter Guan Kejiang)

(Original title: China Enterprises Kuwait New City "Water Control" Record)

Editor: Chen Luyi