History of the STEP Programme
Both the residential and commercial construction sectors are witnessing a major boom in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, where development is occurring on a very aggressive timescale. Given Abu Dhabi’s widening international image combined with an aggressive growth plan, the need for an efficient, adequate and reliable wastewater management system is vital.
STEP will handle the wastewater loads collected by other Capital Investment Programmes.
In 2006, the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) commissioned preparation of a sewerage system Master Plan. ADSSC used this report, along with other historical data sources, to develop a series of planned investments. The resulting Capital Investment Plan (CIP) comprised four components. Subsequent to preparation of the Master Plan, ADSSC commissioned a Programme Management Office (PMO) for delivery of the Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) component of the CIP. SIP was re-branded as the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) and was intended to address a mixture of strategic and conceptual needs. It is being implemented on a parallel track with other components of the CIP.
The depth of the STEP Main Tunnel varies from 35 meters on Abu Dhabi Island, to nearly 100 meters at Al Wathba.
The Master Plan served as the starting point for work on STEP. The PMO undertook an initial activity to review recent developments and planning efforts, validate and refine the planning projections, and then further define STEP. Based on the results of this work effort, STEP will consist of the following infrastructure improvements:
- Deep tunnel sewer
- Series of link sewers connecting the existing sewerage system to the new deep tunnel sewer
- Pumping station located at the termination of the deep tunnel sewer
- Elimination of numerous existing pumping stations
- Asset enhancement scheme in the Northwest area of Abu Dhabi Island
Tunnel Boring Machines eliminate surface disruptions.