An industrial facility in Qatar that specialises in cleaning oily and greasy equipment has sharply reduced its reliance on costly fresh water after installing a system that reclaims 97% of the water used in its operations.
The system was designed and delivered by UK-based ByWater Services. It treats contaminated wash water so it can be reused in the facility’s cleaning processes, reducing both the volume of fresh water that needs to be procured and the amount of wastewater requiring treatment and disposal.
ByWater integrated the system with the client’s existing plant infrastructure, with minimal disruption to day-to-day operations.
Why water reclamation matters in Qatar
Qatar faces acute water scarcity, with almost no natural freshwater sources and heavy reliance on energy-intensive seawater desalination to meet municipal and industrial needs. This contributes to higher water costs than in many other regions, creating strong commercial and regulatory incentives for industries to reduce consumption and manage wastewater responsibly.
National programmes have also driven high rates of treated wastewater reuse, with authorities reporting reuse levels approaching 98% in some networks for irrigation, agriculture, and aquifer recharge.
The challenges facing the facility
Before the upgrade, the client faced several challenges
- High water costs: Desalination and treatment made fresh water expensive.
- Contaminated wastewater: Oils, grease, and other industrial by-products required advanced treatment before the water could be safely reused or disposed of.
- Limited recycling: Earlier recycling efforts recovered only a small proportion of the water used, resulting in resource waste and higher operating costs.
- Environmental and regulatory pressure: The facility needed to reduce its environmental footprint while complying with local wastewater disposal regulations.
How ByWater engineered the fix
ByWater designed a tailored reclamation system to treat contaminated wash water and return it to the cleaning process, reducing the need for continual replacement with fresh supplies. The company managed the project from design through to execution, integrating the equipment into the existing plant with minimal disruption.
Claire Jennings-Bhojani, Marketing Executive at ByWater Services, said: “The right solution will vary by site, but the principle is the same: every litre that can safely be reused is one less litre the business needs to draw from the mains. There is a strong commercial case as well as an environmental one. If water is critical to production, cleaning, or processing, resilience protects continuity.”
Results and wider significance
The client has since measured a water reclamation rate of 97%, reducing fresh water demand and wastewater disposal requirements while helping the facility meet its sustainability goals and comply with standards for non-potable water reuse.
Water reclamation systems of this kind are becoming increasingly relevant to industrial operators in arid regions. By treating and recycling process water on site, companies can reduce their reliance on desalinated supplies, lower water procurement and disposal costs, and reduce their environmental footprint.
ByWater Services has more than two decades of experience in commercial and industrial water treatment, wastewater treatment, and reclamation systems. The company works with clients in the UK and internationally to develop and deliver water management solutions tailored to their operational needs.