ENR 2024 Global Best Projects
Award of Merit, Water/Wastewater: Musaimeer Pump Station and Outfall
The Musaimeer pump station in Doha, Qatar, is a critical upgrade of the middle east country’s water infrastructure.
Photo by Akhil M. Geetham
Musaimeer Pump Station and Outfall
Doha, Qatar
Award of Merit
Submitted by: Mott MacDonald
Owner: Ashghal ( Public Works Authority)
Lead Design Firm | MEP Engineer: COWI A/S
General Contractor: Hamad Binkhalid - PORR JV
Civil & Structural Engineer: VCE
Project Management Consultant: Mott MacDonald
The Musaimeer pump station and outfall is a vital infrastructure addition in Qatar to meet demands of its increasing population and to deal with growing problems of rising brackish groundwater as well as flash flooding.
The $253-million project was completed in May 2023 and is capable of processing up to 19.7 million cu m of water per second. To construct the 10.2-km outfall tunnel, the project tunnel boring machine encountered challenges that included mixed geological strata, karstic cavities and fracture strata with direct connections to the seabed.
The limited size of the site (37 acres) and aesthetic requirements limiting structure height to under 52 ft meant that 90% of the constructed project is located underground. Power supply to the pump station during construction was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the project team installed 10 MW of generators and further installed 3 MW of temporary power to ensure testing and commissioning was done successfully.
Despite the complications, the project team completed the tunnel on budget and almost two months early.
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