Water Network Affairs (WNA) is working at development of its tasks and services provided to customers using the international updated techniques within the frame of its seeking to execute KAHRAMAA policy and objectives to provide services of high quality in a short time.

Within such frame, the corporation has executed contracts to connect water network to more than 34500 customers and install 118000 meters for the customers in addition to 134 special meters at areas. Total value of the contracts has mounted 142 million riyals.

The corporation has been keen to change works execution mechanism from the direct manpower system to the out sourcing utilization as shown in executing contracts with contracting companies qualified to perform the main water networks and the sub-connections tasks based on studies results which proved that the current system matches the world trend and secures the proper arrangements to execute works while securing quality, execution speedy, availability of materials in addition to verification of works performed by more than one entity without any additional cost for the corporation to incur.

Among the positive aspects of the new system that the corporation shall not bear several administrative and financial liabilities related to manpower and materials in addition to saving enough time for planning, development and exceeding a series of routine complicated procedures. 

The experiment has succeeded in expediting work progress and increasing quality level in execution of works and control and supervision of the Department Engineers.
New Materials.

The Water Networks Affairs has developed type of materials used by changing over copper pipes used on a large scale all over the world to Polyethylene pipes which are considered the most updated techniques and are characterized with their life age beside their high quality.

Also, water meters have been qualified and electronic water meters have been used instead of the mechanic ones previously used to avoid technical problems which might occur from time to time and benefit out of the electronic meters advantages as shown in their high accuracy, their enduring high temperature in addition to the possibility of their linkage with the reading system intended to be applied at KAHRAMAA.

Water Network Development:
          Also, the corporation has signed several contracts to develop water networks among which are customers connections contract No GTC/18/2003 for three years based upon call – off system executed from 15 September 2003 till 14 September 2006 against a value of 29,8 million riyals to provide 15500 customers with water in addition to installation of 23000 electronic meter. Total lengths of connections have been 113000 meters.

Nowadays the call off customers connections contract GTC/54/2005 for three years is being executed since 4 January 2006 till 3 January 2009 against an amount of 41,9 million riyals. Number of beneficiaries is 18000 customers beside installation of 17000 electronic meters. Total connections lengths have been 140000 meters. A year has elapsed since the start of the project during which 2500 water sub-connections have been completed at total lengths of 29958 meters and water total lines with lengths 3624 meters through which 10000 customers have been provided with.

Work shall continue during the years 2007, 2008 to cover all new connection applications. By the year 2009 the project shall have completed all new customers' water connection applications all over the existing water network including customer's meters.

The corporation has signed water distribution network gaps call off contract no GTC/39/2005 for two years during the period from 29 November 2005 till 28 November 2007 against a value of 16,8 million riyals.

Thus, the netwo0rk is connected to about 1000 customers who relied on water till date and 325 customers at Neija and Al-Sadd areas have been supplied with water. Now 6000 meters of new water distribution lines are operated for Maither, Khrytiat and Neija areas. It is expected that lengths of the new network lines extended now be 38000 meters at more than one area throughout the country namely Al Rayyan, Beni Hajer, Kuleib, New Salata and other separate areas.

Old Meters Replacement:
          The corporation is executing Customers Meters Replacement contract No GTC/44/2004 throughout the period 31 July 2005 till 30 July 2007 against a value of 14,3 million riyal. Number of meters which shall be replaced is 17500 covering several areas among which are Khalifa North City, Khalifa South city and Al Aseiri area.
In addition to this, the Customers Meters Replacement three years contract no GTC/87/2005 which includes replacement of 42500 new meters the contract is in awarding stage.

District Water Meters:
          It is expected KAHRAMAA to complete district  meters installation to the water distribution network contract No GTC/9/2003 executed on 13 March 2005 and expires on 12 March 2007. Such contract includes installation of  district meters at (134) areas against an amount of 20,7 million riyal to measure volume of water consumption at all areas supplied through the network wherein such meters shall be in addition to the control centre linked with water networks comparing remote reading with customers meters reading to determine volume of waste water.

Service Improvements:
          With respect to KAHRAMAA vision and plans to replace customers water meter, Mr. Abdul Moneim Darwish, manager of Field Services Department at Water Networks Affairs -  KAHRAMAA said : "Based on KAHRAMAA mission which stipulated providing electricity and water services all over the State of Qatar while satisfying the State's needs of electricity and water, operating on commercial basis, KAHRAMAA should bear all its liabilities, develop its services offered to customers through application of techniques available throughout the worlds in order to apply its curriculum embodied in the "Customer's satisfaction" policy beside achieving all matters for the public good.

Mr. Darwish went on "Based on the above, utilization of electronic water meters instead of the mechanical traditional one has already been applied seeking to secure accurate consumption readings for all customers and sectors, maintain KAHRAMAA's interest and rights, beside application of waste water control project which KAHRAMAA is executing has necessitated utilization of the most updated and accurate electronic meters used at the world level securing them for all customers to determine volume of actual waste, seek to treat and reduce it to match ratios internationally acknowledged.

In a reply, why KAHRAMAA chooses electronic meter, the Field Services Department Manager said : "The idea of using electronic meters has arisen out of KAHRAMAA long experiment of using traditional mechanical meters with the many complaints as regards non-accuracy and plenty of faults. This has led use to look for a substitute accurate system free from the previous technical defects.

Mr. Darwish continued, "Accordingly, KAHRAMAA has carried out several detailed studies whose outcome has been application of the electronic meters system at customers properties and all water utilities w.e.f. 2003 as important and fundamental part in the development of KAHRAMAA services a along with application of its policies stipulating application of the remote reading system to obtain readings in the nearest future.

Defect Repairs:
          As regards accomplishments related replacement of old meters, Mr. Darwish – Field Services Department Manager at KAHRAMAA Water Networks Affairs declared," since 2003, utilization of electronic meters has actually started. Since that time a number of tenders has been announced to supply and install such type of meters. About (36000) mechanical meters been replaced with new electronic ones. Also, (31495) electronic meters have been installed for the new connections. Total number of electronic meters has been (67495).
Nowadays, work is under progress at the remaining sites and buildings through a number of current contracts to complete replacement plan of old mechanical meters with modern electronic ones for all customers throughout the coming two years.

Best type of Electronic Meters:
          With respect to the discussion recently made regarding efficiency of the electronic meters' operation Engineer Ahmed Al Mohannadi, Customer Services Department Manager at KAHRAMAA, Regarding program of replacing the old water meters with electronic ones, Engineer Ahmed Al Mohannadi said, "Work is now going on in coordination with Field Services Department, Water Networks at KAHRAMAA to replace all old meters by 2009. the new meters are among the best types available throughout the world. Their selection has been carried out based on a technical feasibility study to ensure the possibility of their efficient operation in a desert climate which is hot and humid in summer season.

Engineer Al Mohannadi went on: " The current electronic meter has been selected among a collection of electronic meters of international specifications tested for a period exceeding one year at more than one area throughout the country to make sure of meters efficiency and accuracy and their non affected with the sever climate circumstances in summer and winter in Qatar. There after we approved the current meters. I may say that our experiment in this field has been pioneering and an example to follow. Several neighboring countries have requested to recognize the development took place in such sector which has its positive impact on the customer's service along with service efficiency and type.