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Supplying water in the desert
10/09/2020
Qatar, which the World Resource Institute lists as the world's most water-stressed county, is currently building a number of mega reservoirs to ensure a safe water supply for its growing population. Molybdenum-containing stainless steel dowel bars are helping to tackle this incredible challenge.
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Maintaining a supply of clean drinking water in the desert is no easy feat. Increasing that supply for a growing population is even more challenging. Qatar is expected to see its population rise by nearly 20 percent over the next ten years. To keep pace with this growth, the country is building the world's largest reinforced concrete reservoirs.
A growing thirst
Orchestrated by Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), the ambitious "mega reservoir" project aims to address a huge increase in the demand for potable water. Qatar's population is expected to increase from approximately 2.7 million to 3.3 million by 2030. The Qatari government is working diligently to build the infrastructure needed to accommodate this forthcoming population growth. The that end, the Qatar National Vision 2030 development plan was launched in October 2008. Its stated objective is to "transform Qatar into an advanced society capable of achieving sustainable development" by 2030. The new series of mega reservoirs marks perhaps one of the most important facets of this development: securing a reliable water supply for the growing number of families, businesses and tourist. Indeed, there will a surge of visitors in 2022 when Qatar hosts the football World Cup in Doha.
An oasis with Stainless Steel
Molybdenum is a key contributor to the success of the reservoir project. Molybdenum-containing stainless steel dowel bars are used in the expansion joints of the walls and floors of the mega reservoirs. They allow the massive concrete slabs to expand and contract in a controlled fashion with changes in temperature and movements of the lateral load, managing stress within the joints. The reservoirs are designed to operate for at least a century, so durability of all components is extremely important.
Read more about this incredible mega reservoir project and molybdenum's key role.
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