A Survey Report on

Rabigh Dam and Water Treatment Plant

Prepared by: Shehroz Ahmad Shoaib

RABIGH DAM
 Rabigh Dam Project

The purpose of dam is to control floods and supply of potable water. This is constructed
as concrete dam. It is 81 m high above foundation level. The length of dam is 381 m and
it can store 220 million Cubic meters of water. Spillway without gates is provided over the
main dam that can discharge the maximum flood water. The dam is also equipped with
four steel pipes which were embedded in the dam at different elevations. The purpose of
these pipes is to draw water from the reservoir at different levels. The water enters the
pipes through the intake structure. The valves are provided on these pipes in valve
chamber located on downstream of the Dam. The flow of water is regulated through
these valves. Depending upon the need and necessity the valves are opened and water
is released to the treatment plant and also into the river bed for irrigation purposes.

A bridge over the Spillway has also been constructed to connect the left and right
abutments of the dam. The width of the dam crest is 5 m and a medium size truck can
easily move over the crest for inspection and other purpose.

A climate station near the crest of the dam has been installed to monitor the rainfall,
ambient temperature, wind velocity and evaporation at the dam site.

Galleries have been provided inside the dam for inspection and to inspect the various
components of the dam. The galleries are equipped with electrification and lighting
system. An Elevator shaft runs from top crest of the dam to lowest level inside the
gallery. The elevator has the capacity to carry 10 persons and stop arrangements at
different levels inside the dam.

A guest house is located near the crest of the dam from where the entire reservoir view
is available. The dam is also equipped with two standby generators to cope with any
power breakdown. The generators have been installed in a generator room.

Upstream View of the Dam Downstream View of the Dam

Observations

1. QUALITY OF CONCRETE FINISH

During Visit it was observed that quality of concrete finish could have been
improved during the construction. The repair works that were done after the
removal of formwork are still visible.

Inadequate concrete
finish and repair work

The matter was discussed with the responsible dam engineer at the Rabigh dam
site who informed that such irregularities on the surface of the dam body are within
acceptable limits. Dam structures are relatively different than other civil structures.

2. ROAD MARKINGS AND SIGNS

It was observed that all the internal roads at the dam site had no lane marking and
other traffic signs installed. The asphalt works for the roads have been completed.
On the other hand, the access road towards the dam site has all markings, lights
and signs.
Internal Road to dam without lane marking

Access Roads with Marking and traffic signals and Guide instructions
WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT RABIGH DAM
CAPACITY 100,000 CUBIC METER/DAY
 Project Photographs showing treatment plant components

Cascade Filters Treated Water Tank

Building
Clarifiers

Sludge Tanks
Treated Water Tank
Plant Operation
Powerhouse
Building

Cascade

Filters Building
Clarifier
Piping Gallery

Generators

Transform
er
Layout Plan of Water Treatment Plant
a. General
Description
Water Treatment Plant is located in Western part of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The
project includes two main components;

Water Treatment Plant (WTP) of 100,000 cu.m/day capacity, located on downstream of

Rabigh dam and 130 km long Carbon Steel Water Pipeline diameter 1200 mm.
Water Treatment Plant was completed in January 2019.
Raw water is taken from Rabigh dam through a pipeline. This water undergoes through
various treatment processes and purified/treated water is supplied to newly developing
areas along coastal road and also supplied to water reservoir at Jeddah.

b. Project Features

Cost of Project: SAR 446.00 million (USD 119 Millions)

Project’s Location: 22.8216 N, 39.3608 E
Start Date: February 2014
Completion Date: January 2019

Project’s Components:
 Aeration Cascade
 Distribution Chamber
 04 Numbers Clarifiers each of 30 m dia.
 Filters Building with 22 No. Cells
 02 Numbers Treated Water Tanks each of 50,000 cu.m storage capacity
 Treated Water Pumping Station
 Backwash Water Tank with backwash Pumps
 Sludge / Dirty Water Tank
 Generators & Transformers Building (Power house)
 Plant Operation Building
 Workshop & Store Building
 Security & Guard Building
 Electrical & Mechanical Installations
 Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) System

c. OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING SURVEY OF WATER

TREATMENT PLANT
1. APPROACH ROAD TO WATER TREATMENT PALNT:

Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is located is located away from nearby main road. An
unpaved dirt approach road of length about 5.8 km leads to WTP in north direction.
Existing condition of dirt approach road is very rough surface with extruding corners
of stones and loose stones. There is lot of dust blowing due to movement of
vehicles. This is causing uncomfortable vehicular movement, damages to the tires
of the vehicles carrying staff to plant site and vehicles carrying materials/chemicals
for operation of the plant. The blowing dust is also causing dust pollution in the
area.
To best solution to eliminate this nuisance, damages and losses is to provide
proper asphaltic approach road to plant site. In case the asphaltic road cannot be
constructed, then proper routine maintenance of existing road is required. Also
water sprinkling should be done regularly to avoid dust blowing.

Start of Dirt Approach Road

 End of Dirt Approach Road at
WTP Gate
2. AERATION CASCADE:

Cascade structure has been constructed similar to a stadium that involved large
volumes of concrete for construction for foundations, columns and concrete slab
with steps. Stepped construction of Cascade is required so that that raw water
coming from river should have been mixed with oxygen which is first step in
treatment and purification of raw water into potable water.
Alternative design options could have been investigated. While visiting another
nearby treatment plant, alternative options was to construct this cascade on
adjacent mountain by cutting and shaping the rock at required dimensions and
elevations with the same slope for steps, hence considerable costs could have
been saved. Cost of cutting and shaping the hill is reasonable because the hill is
already on a slope matching closely to the required slope.

Cascade as constructed
 Preferable Construction of Cascade on Slope of Nearby Mountain
(an example from another nearby project)

3. SECURITY GUARD ROOM LOCATION:

In the constructed orientation of the security guard room, the position of reception
room is in such a way that guard can observe the visitors by CCTV camera only
and is unable to make any communication with the visitors. For each visitor or
incoming vehicle, guard has to come out of his room up to main gate for security
checking. This creates a difficulty in performing his duty.
Receptio

Security Guard House

n

as constructed

The preferable solution was to construct the guard house with orientation as shown
in the sketch below. With this orientation, guard can easily watch and communicate
with visitors for security checks.
 Preferable orientation of
Security Guard House

4. BOUNDARY WALL ON MOUNTAIN SIDES:

Boundary Wall is constructed only on northern and western side of the plant. It is
partially constructed on eastern side to join with the existing mountain. It is not
constructed on southern side of the plant.
Boundary wall has not been constructed on southern and eastern side of the plant.
There is possibility of entry of unauthorized persons into the plant site which is not
acceptable for such important and sensitive site.
 Boundary wall is constructed with precast panels inserted between already
constructed columns. The same construction might be difficult to construct adjacent
to mountains on south and east sides. It is possible to construct steel wire fence
along these sides of the plant site.

5. POWER HOUSE (TRANSFORMERS & GENERATORS ROOMS):

5.1 Transformer Room

Transformers are provided to step down power supply. These are placed on raised
concrete platforms in the transformer rooms. Minor repairs and maintenance works
for transformers can be done at the spot. But for major repairs, the transformers
need to be shifted out of the room. Generally, the rails are fixed on floor and
transformers are pushed on these rails for shifting inside and outside the room. But
no such arrangement is found.
There are two possible solutions those can be employed. Preferably fix new guide
rails on floor for transformer movement. Alternatively, transformers can be shifted
from inside to outside of the room by use of a crane.
 Transformer arrangement as provided

Proposed arrangement of guide rails

5.2 Generator Room

Generators are provided as standby power supply in case of power failure. Two
generators are placed side by side in one room. Noise level is quite high when both
generators are working simultaneously. It seems above the permissible audible
level and difficult to bear for the staff working around.
This can be achieved through fixing of dampers and providing dividing wall between
two generators made of noise damping material.
 Fixed Two Generators in Power Building

6. TEXTURED PAINT ON EXTERIOR SIDES OF THE PLANT BUILDINGS:

Outer surfaces of all the buildings are painted and it is observed that textured paint
is applied on exterior surfaces. Signboards along the road indicate that project area
is prone to sandstorms. Sandy particles will be deposited on unsmooth surfaces of
the buildings due to textured painting. Such deposited sandy particles on exterior
walls surfaces could only be removed by frequent cleaning and washing. No
solution can be proposed except that during any future maintenance of buildings, it
can be replaced with smooth paint finishes.

Textured Painting on Exterior Surfaces