Kuwait is a largely flat desert region with no rivers, lakes, or marshes. Looking at the annual volume of available freshwater resources^*2 around the world, the available volume in Kuwait was approximately 430,000 times less^*3 than that in Brazil in first position. The majority of domestic water in Kuwait, which suffers from an extreme shortage of water sources, is produced through the desalination of seawater and the treatment of sewage water. Like other oil-producing countries in the Middle East, urbanization in Kuwait led to an urgent need for electricity, water, and railroad infrastructure.

In recent years, successive deep tunnel sewerage systems have been built in Kuwait and other Middle Eastern nations. In these systems, city sewage is collected at pumping facilities a few dozen meters underground, and transported at pressure to sewage treatment facilities. The pumps used in these systems must be resistant to blockages caused by sewage waste, and be able to efficiently carry the sewage to higher locations, requiring advanced technology that can balance both efficiency and conveyance capabilities.

In 2008, Kubota was commissioned to supply an unprecedented, ultra-high-lift pump that could lift water up from 120 meters underground. The pump was to be used in Al Jahra, in the west of Kuwait City, to carry wastewater at pressure to a treatment facility. Kubota was selected due to the large diameter of its pump passages and its pump’s excellent efficiency. Powerful, high-performance pumps of this nature are only available from a limited number of manufacturers. Further, with the required number of pumps lower than initially expected, Kubota was able to offer the added benefit of reduced construction and maintenance costs. Ultimately, Kubota used its outstanding products and technologies to enable superb efficiency and water conveyance capabilities, minimize costs throughout the pump’s lifecycle,* and help create the optimal sewage infrastructure.

Cleaning, transporting, and recycling water—Kubota has long contributed to water infrastructure across the world through its various water-related technologies and products. In this project, Kubota made use of its proprietary high-lift pump technology to cater to Kuwait’s lofty requirements. Today, the company continues to tackle water issues worldwide with its wide-ranging expertise, advanced technological capabilities and superior product lineup.