DUBAI MUNICIPALITY

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ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION &

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SAFETY SECTION Technical Guideline

NUMBER 13
Revised on October 1997

INDUSTRIAL WASTE WATER DISPOSAL

Background: The discharge of industrial waste water poses a threat to the land and
water environment.
In Dubai, a prior permit is required to discharge waste water generated
from any industrial / trade premises. The Environmental Protection &
Safety Section of the Municipality is keen to create necessary
awareness among all waste generators and encourage them to adopt
waste minimization techniques including water reuse and to control all
discharges to land and marine environment. The following guidelines
explain the policies and procedures for wastewater disposal in the
Emirate of Dubai.

Guidelines:

1. Waste Segregation

1.1. Industrial waste water and domestic sewage shall not be combined into
a single effluent system prior to an approved sampling point.

2. Waste Minimization

2.1. The basis of an effective waste minimization plan is a detailed waste

audit study addressing aspects discussed in the Technical Guideline
No. 2 on Waste Audit Reports & No. 28 on Minimization of Industrial
Waste Water.

2.2. Waste Minimization plan should consider: (i) Means of avoiding

excess water use / waste water generation (ii) Means of reducing the
strength of contaminant entering the waste stream (iii) Means of water
reuse / recycling. Minimization of industrial waste water will
dramatically reduce water costs as well as the costs of treatment and
disposal.

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 2.3. All industries will be required to submit the waste audit report to the
Environmental Protection & Safety Section and to eventually
implement its findings.
3. Waste Discharge Permits

3.1 Waste discharge permit will be issued by the Environmental Protection

& Safety Section depending on the waste quantity, quality and other
criteria explained in Section 4.

3.2 The waste generator shall undertake waste minimization program and
ensure that the quantity for disposal is brought down to the best
possible extend.

3.3 If the quality of the effluent does not conform with the DM standards
for discharge, the waste water shall be pretreated to a quality
conforming to the prescribed discharge standards or for reuse.

3.4 Technical Guideline No. 1 sets out the information required to be

furnished by the waste generator to the Environmental Protection &
Safety Section for obtaining a permit for discharge of waste to land,
marine waters or sewerage system.

3.5. Waste water analysis: Industrial waste water must be analyzed to

characterize the constituents and its concentration in the waste, at any
of the DM approved environmental laboratories.

4. Waste Disposal

4.1 Figure attached, outlines the present priority order for disposal of
waste water in Dubai.

4.2. If the quality of effluent meets the standards prescribed for land
discharge and if suitable land is available, say for irrigation etc., a
permit could be obtained for discharge of wastewater to land.

4.3. If the quality of effluent meets the prescribed marine discharge

standards, and if there is direct access to the marine waters, a permit to
dispose effluent to the marine environment could be obtained.

4.4. If portions under 4.2 and 4.3 above are not found feasible and provided
the quality of waste water is acceptable for discharge to sewer, the
generator could obtain a permit for discharging wastewater to the
sewerage system.

4.5 Any waste water not meeting the above criteria shall be deemed as
hazardous waste and must be disposed of at the Hazardous Waste
Disposal Site at Jebel Ali in accordance with Technical Guideline 26.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION & SAFETY SECTION
TEL.: 2064244/ 2064245 FAX: 2270160

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 Figure

INDUSTRIAL WASTE
WATER DISPOSAL SCHEME

Waste Water Generator

Carry out waste

minimization/pre-treatment

Apply for disposal permit

with full analysis report

Land available and quality Yes Dispose to land

meets prescribed by EPS Permit
standards ?
No

Access to marine waters Yes Dispose to

and quality meets marine waters
prescribed standards ? by EPS Permit
No

Yes Dispose to
Waste water acceptable
sewer by EPS
for sewer discharge ?
Permit
No

Dispose to Dubai
Municipality Hazardous
Waste Disposal Site at
Jebel Ali by EPS Permit

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