Environmental Standards

Biological Treatment Design and Operation

KSA

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Environmental Standard

Biological Treatment Design and Operation

Article I Preliminary

1)

Definitions
aerobic means in the presence of oxygen.
aerobic digestion is the biological decomposition
of organic materials by micro-organisms under
controlled, aerobic, conditions.
anaerobic means in the absence of oxygen.
anaerobic digestion is the process where
biodegradable material is encouraged to break down
in the absence of oxygen. Material is placed into an
enclosed vessel and in controlled conditions the
waste breaks down typically into a digestate, liquor
and biogas.
authorisation
process
refers
to
the
determination of all applications for the development
of a new biological treatment facility by the
Competent Agency up to the point where
permission is granted to proceed with the
development.
bio-aerosols are biological particles suspended
in air and can be either whole or fragments of living
or dead microbes, or their spores.
biodegradable means capable of being degraded
by plants and animals.
biodegradable Waste is waste that is capable of
undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition,
such as food or garden waste and paper and
cardboard, that is, waste that rots.

disposal is all operations of incineration;

precipitation; landfill; or intentional or unintentional,
direct or indirect, discharge of any wastes or
hazardous, toxic or radioactive substances, either in
gaseous, liquid or solid forms, into the environment.
"emission" means the direct or indirect release of
substances, vibrations, heat or noise from individual
or diffuse sources in the plant into the air, water or
soil.
feedstock refers to the raw material required for
the process.
generator is a commercial or industrial
organisation which produces or stores trackable
waste and arranges for this waste to be sent for
storage, recycling, treatment or disposal at another
location via an authorised transporter.
GER refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias
General Environmental Regulations.
green waste is waste from gardens and parks
including tree cuttings, branches, grass, leaves (with
the exception of street sweepings), sawdust, wood
chips and other wood waste not treated with heavy
metals or organic compounds.
hazardous waste is a waste with properties that
make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful
effect on human health and the environment.

bunds are systems which contain waste in an

embankment or secondary container to prevent the
waste from travelling or escaping.

in-vessel
composting
is
the
aerobic
decomposition of shredded and mixed organic
waste within an enclosed container, where the
control systems for material degradation are fully
automated. Moisture, temperature, and odour can
be regulated and a stable compost can be produced
much more quickly than outdoor windrow
composting.

CQA refers to construction quality assurance.

KSA refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Competent Agency where referenced, refers to

the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment or
its designated representative.

landfill is any facility, other than a ground

treatment facility or a storage pool, where wastes
are disposed of in an environmentally safe manner
either by placing them on the ground or burying
them underground.

biogas is the gas resulting from the fermentation

of waste in the absence of air (methane/carbon
dioxide).

Construction Quality Assurance Plan (CQA)

refers to the documentation to be provided outlining
the successful construction of the biological
treatment facility and providing evidence that all
design performance specifications have been met.
digestate is the solid and/or liquid product
resulting from Anaerobic Digestion.

liquor is concentrated liquid, produced as a result

of the decomposition of organic waste.
Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) refers
to the mechanical sorting/separation technologies
used in conjunction with biological treatment

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transporter means a person engaged in the offsite transportation of waste by air, rail, highway or
water and is anyone who transports the trackable
waste from its place of production or storage to
another location.

processes, such as composting or anaerobic

digestion.
non-hazardous waste refers to waste which in
its current state, does not pose an immediate
danger to human health or the environment.

treatment is any means or technique of altering

the physical, chemical or biological properties of
wastes used to neutralise such wastes; utilise
substances or energy contained therein or released
by them; and transform the hazardous wastes into
wastes that are non-hazardous, less hazardous or
safer when transported, stored, disposed of,
prepared for storage, or reduced in volume.

parameter shall refer to a chemical, physical or

biological measurement factor as listed.
PME refers to the Presidency of Meteorology and
Environment who are designated as the responsible
authority for the protection of the environment and
the development of environmental protection
standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

TSD Facility refers to a treatment, storage and/or

a disposal facility.

putrescible waste is organic matter constituting

food scraps, food preparation waste and plate
scrapings and other perishable foodstuffs.

WAC refers to Waste Acceptance Criteria.

waste facility is a site for recycling, storing,
treating or disposing of waste.

recycling is the separation and collection of

wastes materials for the subsequent transformation
or remanufacture into usable or marketable
products or materials.

waste handler is a generator, transporter and

receiver of waste who has waste responsibilities.

"residue" means any liquid or solid material

(including sewage sludge from the treatment of
waste waters), classified as waste in the Waste
Classification Standard, which is generated by the
biological treatment process.

waste receiver is any person operating a facility

to whom waste is transported for recycling, storage,
treatment or disposal.
windrow
composting
is
the
aerobic
decomposition
of
appropriate
shredded
biodegradable waste using open linear heaps
known as 'windrows', which are approximately three
meters high and four to six meters across. The
process involves mechanical turning of the waste
until the desired temperature and residence times
are achieved to enable effective degradation. This
results in a bulk-reduced, stabilised residue known as
compost. Windrow composting can take place outdoors
or within buildings and the process takes around three
months.

risk assessment is the process of identifying and

quantifying a risk and assessing the significance of
that risk in relation to other risks.
sewage sludge is formed as a by-product of the
different treatment stages of raw sewage from
domestic households and includes by-products of
industrial and commercial effluent treatment
processes, including:

residual sludge from sewage plants treating

domestic or urban waste waters and from other
sewage plants treating waste waters of a
composition similar to domestic and urban
waste waters;
residual sludge from septic tanks and other
similar installations for the treatment of sewage.

sludge is any solid, semi-solid, liquid or

precipitating wastes remaining at the bottom of
tanks or containers, such as those resulting from the
treatment processes of domestic, commercial or
industrial sewage or potable water or produced by
air pollution control devices.
storage means all operations intended to keep or
contain wastes and other hazardous, toxic or
radioactive substances for the purpose of treatment,
transportation or disposal.
tanks are stationary devices, as opposed to
portable containers, used to store or treat waste.
Tanks can be open topped or completely enclosed,
and may be constructed of materials including steel,
plastic, fibreglass, and concrete.

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working plan is the operational plan developed

prior to the acceptance of waste which sets out the
operational methods to be used on site and
demonstrates how environmental and human health
impacts will be managed and controlled.

2)

Citation
a) This document may be cited as the National
Biological Treatment Design and Operations
Standard for KSA. This standard revises the current
General Standards for the Environment (specifically
document number 1409-01) issued by the
Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME).

3)
.

Timescales for implementation

a) The effective date of this standard
01/05/1433H corresponds to 24/03/2012G.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

7)

Purpose
a) The Standard for Biological Treatment Design
and Operation has effect for purposes connected
with the treatment and disposal of biodegradable
waste, and in particular for the purposes of the;
i)

ii)

Powers of Authority
a) Within the scope of these standards the
Competent Agency may:

design of new biological treatment facilities

which accept biodegradable waste from
across the KSA; and
operation of biological treatment facilities to
ensure that the sites are managed in a
manner which will have least possible
impact upon the neighbouring environment
or human health;

and accordingly the Biological Treatment Design

and Operation Standard shall be recognised and
used for those purposes.
b) This Standard guides those developing and
operating biological treatment facilities to;
i)

ii)

iii)

understand the best practice requirements

with respect to biological treatment facility
design and operation;
develop new biological treatment facilities
with due regard to international best
practice; and

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i)

prescribe specific requirements at any

time as to other characteristics of waste;

ii)

authorise such relaxations or departures

from, the waste standards and make any
such authorisation subject to the
prescribed conditions, and to modify or
revoke any such authorisation or
condition; and

iii)

authorise a local Concerned Agency to

exercise any power conferred by these
regulations by paragraphs i) - ii) above.

b) The Competent Agency may, for the purposes of

this Standard, appoint persons to act on their behalf
as technical assessors and monitors in relation to
the powers and duties conferred on him by this
standard and/or its subsequent amendments.
c) In addition to the responsibilities conferred by
other sections contained within this standard, it shall
be the duty of a relevant party;
i) to give the Competent Agency all such
assistance; and

understand the necessary site development

requirements for the different type of
biological processes;

ii) to provide the Competent Agency with all

such information, as that may reasonably be
required for the purpose of carrying out an
investigation

c) This Standard is intended for use as a default

position for biological treatment design and
operation.

d) The Competent Agency or appointed individual

for the purpose of waste regulation may:
5)

Scope
i) Enter any premises for the purpose of
carrying out any investigation.

a) This Standard applies to all new biological

treatment pre-development.
However, existing
biological treatment facility operators must, as far as
practicable, implement the relevant best practice
measures contained within this Standard.

ii) carry out such inspections, measurements

and tests on premises entered, articles or
records found on any such premises, and take
away such samples of waste or articles, as
may be considered appropriate for the purpose
of enabling such investigation; or

b) This Standard sets out the design parameters

and operational requirements for biological
treatment facilities in the KSA.
c) This Standard applies to commercial and/or
publicly operated biological treatment facilities. The
provisions of this Standard are therefore not
applicable to domestic biological processes such as
home
composting
initiatives
operated
by
householders at their place of residence.
6)

Exemptions

iii) at any reasonable time require any relevant

party to supply him with copies of, or of
extracts from, any records kept for the purpose
of demonstrating compliance with waste
standards.
e) This standard enables the issue of regulations and
technical memoranda which are enforceable by the
Competent Agency who hold delegated authority
under the General Environmental Regulations.

a) Specific exemptions may be specified within this

standard at any point where relevant to the Article
that they are common to.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

a) These systems are oxygenated and the

microbiological organisms convert the organic
components of the hazardous waste into carbon
dioxide and water.

Enforcement procedures
a) Failure to comply with the requirements of these
standards may lead to prosecution by the Competent
Agency and those convicted of such failure may be
subject to fines or periods of imprisonment as laid
out in the General Environmental Regulations.

b) Aerobic systems include;

i)

aerobic activated and supported sludge

processes these are used for the
treatment of industrial wastewaters
containing organic wastes and for
sewage sludge; and

ii)

composting this is the aerobic

biological degradation of biodegradable
green waste and putrescible waste.

b) It is anticipated that the requirements of this

standard will be enforced nationally with inspections
taking place to verify their implementation at a
regional and local level.

9)

Penalty fines

c) Composting involves the biodegradation of waste

under aerobic conditions and therefore requires
aeration of the waste. This can be achieved by
several methods, including;

a) Maximum fines that may be imposed for

exceeding the applicable standard, breach of permit
and failure to comply with an abatement notice are
set out in the General Environmental Regulations.

10)

i)

windrow system - comprises the aerobic

processing of organic wastes placed in
rows and either actively aerated or
turned to promote aeration and
decomposition of the material to form
compost. This method must be confined
to the green (or garden) waste element
of municipal waste. The process may be
covered or take place in the open air;

ii)

aerated static piles The process can

also take place in static piles aerated
through either a sucking or blowing
action. This removes the need for turning
in order to provide aeration. This method
is restricted to treating green waste; and

iii)

in-vessel systems used for the

composting of materials in encapsulated
environments; can be used for a wider
range of materials than windrow and
aerated static pile systems, including
food processing and other putrescible
waste.

Appeals
a) A right of appeal exists for any organisation or
individual who is required to take action as a
consequence of the implementation of the revised
standard.
b) The right of appeal against conviction or sentence
is available through the appropriate judicial system
as set out in the General Environmental Regulations.
c) All appeals should be fully supported with a
documented case containing as a minimum, the
information required under the appeals process of
the General Environmental Regulations.

11)

Periodic review
a) As a minimum, the Competent Agency shall
undertake a periodic review of this standard every 5
years.
b) Where new information suggests that
adjustments are required to this standard, all
changes will be subject to the appropriate
consultation and will be notified to facilities by the
Competent Agency. Appropriate implementation
time will be allowed.

Article II Classification of Biological Treatment

Systems
a) The provisions of this Standard apply to the
classification of biological treatment processes into
either aerobic or anaerobic systems.

1)

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2)

Anaerobic Systems
a) Anaerobic systems are devoid of oxygen and the
organisms convert the waste into methane and
carbon dioxide. Anaerobic digestion takes place in
an enclosed, closely controlled reactor.
b) Anaerobic digestion of waste can be used for the
treatment of municipal solid waste and other wastes
such as sewage sludge, agricultural wastes and
animal manure.
c) Anaerobic systems include;
i)

dry continuous digestion;

ii)

dry batch digestion;

Aerobic Systems

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

iii)

leach-bed or sequencing batch process;

iv)

wet continuous digestion; and

v)

multi-stage wet digestion.

recreation areas, coastal water resources

and agricultural areas;
ii)

presence of groundwater, surface water,

coastal water or nature conservation zones;

iii)

geological and hydrogeological conditions

underlying the site; and

d) Anaerobic digestion results in the generation of;

i)

biogas, which is rich in methane and can

be used to generate heat and/or
electricity;

ii)

fibre, (or digestate) which is nutrient rich

and can potentially be used as a soil
conditioner.

Article III General Design and Operational Provisions

a) Any biological process can only act on
biodegradable materials. Therefore any biological
treatment process can only degrade either source
segregated materials or those mechanically
separated from a mixed waste stream into an
organic rich fraction, such as mechanical biological
treatment (MBT) processes.

b) Windrow and aerated static pile composting

facilities must be sited at a remote location so as to
provide a large buffer zone between the composting
facility and any local residents. Other considerations
that must be taken into account for the site location
of a composting facility include the following;
potential for release of contaminants to
surface and ground waters;

ii)

potential for airborne dissemination of

contaminants (dust, litter, spores);

iii)

distance
from
materials were
compost facility;

c) The provisions in this Standard are generic for all

biological treatment processes detailed in Part II of
this Standard, unless otherwise stated.

iv)

distance to compost markets;

v)

distance to the facility;

d) Where risk assessments and investigations

identify that a specific provision or requirement is
required then this justification will be taken into
account during the Authorisation Process. The
minimum information required for authorisation
purposes is outlined in Appendix A in the PreDesign Report Requirements for Authorisation.

vi)

traffic patterns/roads to and from the

facility;

vii)

buffer zones for visual/noise screening

and odour dilution;

viii)

availability of appropriate utilities;

ix)

appropriate
soil
types
geotechnical conditions;

x)

drainage patterns;

xi)

flood hazard;

xii)

past ownership and usage;

xiii)

zoning limitations;

xiv)

room for future expansion of the

facility;

xv)

anticipated growth and development

near the facility.

Environmental Assessment
a) An Environmental Assessment will be required
prior to the development of a biological treatment
facility. This will be necessary to gain a thorough
understanding of the environment where the facility
is to be sited in order to design the facility to
minimise impacts on the environment.
b) As a minimum requirement the Environmental
Assessment should include the items outlined in
Appendix B.

2)

iv) other undetermined local factors which

could be impacted by a proposed biological
treatment facility and which will be identified
at the local level during the Environmental
Assessment.

i)

b) The provisions in this Standard therefore apply to

biodegradable waste which has been previously
segregated from other waste streams or separated
following MBT.

1)

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Site Location
a) When locating a biological treatment facility
consideration must be given to the following;
i)

distance from the site boundary to sensitive

receptors such as residential properties,

where
feedstock
generated to the

and

c) The likely impacts of sewage treatment works are

those from offensive odours, flies, as well as visual
intrusion. Therefore, sewage treatment works need
to be relatively remote from residential areas and
located on the edge of settlements, with a site
specific limit ranging from a minimum of 25 metres

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to 400 metres. This will vary according to the type of

processes carried out, the size of works, industrial
effluents involved, land use around the site, any
anticipated extensions and site topography.

3)

c) On large biological treatment facilities, where

waste is delivered by waste transporters or the
public, a gatehouse is to be provided at the entrance
to the site or at a suitable point which cannot be bypassed by waste transporters when travelling to the
facility. Waste transporters must verify their waste
deliveries in line with the Waste Tracking
requirements as set out in the Waste Regulatory
Control and Compliance Standard.

Site Specific Design Considerations

a) Site considerations are also important throughout
the design stage as no two sites will be identical
even though they may be developed for the same
type of biological treatment process.

d) A number of facilities should be provided at the

gatehouse to provide the attendant with the best
practicable opportunity to confirm the acceptability of
incoming wastes including;

b) All biological treatment facilities must be designed

with the desire for the least possible local impact
and where possible they must blend in with the local
surroundings.
c) Site factors which affect biological treatment
design include (but are not limited to);
i)

topography;

ii)

size and shape of the property area;

iii)

subsurface geological and hydrogeological

conditions;

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i)

a viewing platform which allows a view of

the contents of incoming lorries;

ii)

elevated mirrors or CCTV cameras which

can be used to scrutinise incoming loads.

e) A weighbridge must be installed at facilities

treating or disposing of solid wastes to facilitate
accurate record keeping for all necessary
administrative and regulatory purposes.
The
weighbridge should be calibrated at least annually to
confirm the accuracy of records.

iv) surrounding land use;

v)

Article IV Site Infrastructure Requirements

local ecological aspects.

d) A detailed pre-construction plan must be provided

to the Competent Agency.
Details of the
requirements for this plan are provided in Appendix
A in the Pre-Design Report Requirements for
Authorisation.
e) A new biological treatment facility must not be
established by any person, nor an increase in the
volume at an existing facility be exercised, unless a
written report has been prepared in accordance with
Appendix A.
4)

Site Layout
a) Biological treatment facilities must be designed
to;
i)

minimise potential environmental impacts;

ii)

minimise health and safety

operators and the public;

iii)

encourage waste recovery;

risks

for

iv) use onsite resources efficiently.

b) To assist in meeting these requirements a
detailed site layout plan must be provided to the
Competent Agency as part of the initial Authorisation
Process prior to the development of the facility to
provide evidence that key concerns have been
considered and addressed prior to the development
works.

1)

Roads and Internal Pavements

a) Local infrastructure must be able to sustain the
operation of a biological treatment facility. The
capacity of the road network to cope safely with any
increased traffic load and with a minimum of
disturbance to the local community must be
examined as part of the pre-development
requirements.
b) The preferred transportation route to the
biological treatment facility from the source of the
waste or other TSD Facility must minimise the
transport of waste through residential and other
sensitive areas. This consideration may influence
the placement of the entrance to the facility.
c) Access to the site will form a mixture of
permanent roads from the main highway.
Consideration must be given to the facilitys
requirements for permanent roads within the site
boundary, especially on larger sites.
d) Permanent roads must be designed with due
regard to the estimated volume of traffic. Where
possible two lane traffic, (minimum total road width
of 7.5 metres), should be provided to allow efficient
entrance and exit from the site.
e) Permanent roads and yard areas must be
constructed of ground supported reinforced concrete
to a specification and depth capable of withstanding
the rigors of large goods vehicle traffic over a

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f) The solids interceptor must be inspected at

monthly intervals and will be subject to periodic
maintenance to remove any accumulated silt and
maintain capacity.

prolonged period, being easily cleaned to reduce

mud and debris and coping with surface water
arisings.
f) Impermeable pavements must be provided in
relation to the waste reception and storage areas to
provide containment of any drainage or liquids
generated within those areas.

3)

b) As a minimum, temporary structures must be

located on site providing accommodation to on site
personnel. Such structures must be designed to
provide;

h) The surfaces must be inspected at monthly

intervals throughout the operational life of the facility
and a record kept of the results of each inspection.
i) In the event that action becomes necessary to
maintain the cleanliness of these areas, the surface
must be cleaned by any manual or mechanical
means available to the site management. Cleaning
may include, but not be limited to; hosing down,
manually sweeping or shovelling, or mechanical
sweepers.

a) Surface water caused by run off of entrained

water from the waste mass or by storm water events
must be adequately controlled through the
construction of interlinked drainage channels across
the site between the operating areas and the
surrounding areas of the site.
b) The design of the drainage system must be taken
into account pre-development.
c) Surface water drainage must be discharged via
an interceptor into a runoff water attenuation lagoon.
d) Any solids or oils collected in the interceptor must
be removed at appropriate intervals to maintain the
capacity of the solids interceptor and disposed of in
an environmentally acceptable manner.
e) The drainage systems must be inspected at
annual intervals throughout the operational life of the
facility to ensure their integrity.

office space for general site management

duties and records storage;

ii)

sanitation facilities for site staff and visitors;

iii)

storage space for site equipment and for

maintenance purposes;

c) All structures must be located in a suitable area of

the site to allow control of day to day activities whilst
also taking account of health and safety aspects.

4)

Surface Water Drainage

i)

iv) first Aid area, fully stocked for minor

accidents.

j) All necessary repairs will be made to any defects

in the surface to ensure that it remains even, does
not become rutted or subject to differential
settlement and remains free draining and free from
standing water.

2)

Utilities and Facilities

a) Electricity, water, sanitation and communications
facilities must be provided at all biological treatment
facilities to ensure the health and safety of on-site
personnel, and to enable control of operations on
site (such as dust control, vehicle washing and fire
fighting).

g) Specifications for the design and construction of

these areas must ensure that the surface provides
an impermeable, durable and easily maintained
surface capable of preventing the transmission of
any fluids through the pavement, or any joints within
the pavement and ensuring the collection of any
fluids into the sealed drainage system (where
required).

k) The external roads and paved yard areas will be

constructed to provide an even surface that falls to
ensure that drainage is directed towards the surface
water drainage systems.

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Fencing and Security

a) A fence must be constructed around the
perimeter of the biological treatment facility to;
i)

reduce onsite trespass;

ii)

provide a screen for the biological treatment

facility;

iii)

delineate the property lines;

iv) provide a control for any litter blow.

b) Fences must be a minimum of 2 metres tall
around the entire perimeter of the site, with lockable
gates provided at the site entrance. Appropriate
signage to discourage trespassers must be erected
at the site entrance.
c) Maintenance and inspection of the site fencing
and gates along the site boundary must be
undertaken on a routine basis and temporary repairs
will be implemented either upon identification during
the inspection or by the end of the day that the
defect is found. A note of the inspection and repairs
will be kept on site and a record kept of the results
of each inspection.

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d) Permanent repairs to the fencing and gates must

be completed within seven working days and a note
will be made in the site diary to this effect.

5)

b) The visual impact of plant, buildings and storage

areas can be reduced by grouping them together or,
where possible, placing them in excavated areas or
upon low-lying land. Appropriate external cladding
and colour of equipment, together with regular
maintenance, can also help.

Site Identification Board

a) An identification board of durable material and
approximate size 1 metre by 1 metre must be
erected and maintained in a prominent position at
the site entrance. The board must display the
following information;
i)

site name and address;

ii)

operator name;

iii)

waste management licence number;

c) The following conditions must be taken into

account to ensure all plant, buildings and storage
areas are;

iv) emergency contact name and telephone

number;
v)

days and hours site is open to receive

waste;

i)

located in such a position as to

minimise impact on adjacent land;

ii)

where practicable, grouped together to

prevent the creation of an unsightly
sprawl of development and to aid their
screening;

iii)

kept as low as practicable to minimise

visual intrusion;

iv)

of appropriate colour and cladding or

otherwise suitable treated to reduce
their visual impact;

v)

satisfactorily maintained to preserve

their external appearance.

vi) the words NO UNAUTHORISED TIPPING.

Article V Biological Treatment Design Requirements

a) Visual intrusion issues must be dealt with on a

site specific basis and the following items must be
considered;

a) The actual plant design and configuration of

biological treatment facilities will differ considerably
between technology providers and the process
employed. Provisions relating to specific biological
treatment facilities must be met in addition to
generic operational considerations which are
applicable to all types of biological treatment
facilities.
b) Generic design considerations applicable to all
biological treatment plants include the following;

1)

i)

visual impact;

ii)

size Considerations;

iii)

construction quality assurance;

iv)

emission controls;

v)

water design controls.

i)

direct effect on landscape by removal of

items such as trees or undertaking major
earthworks;

ii)

site setting; is the site close to listed

buildings, conservation areas or sensitive
viewpoints;

iii)

existing large buildings and structures in

the area;

iv)

the potential of a stack associated with

some air clean-up systems for mixed
waste processing operations may impact
on visual intrusion;

v)

use of screening features such as trees,

hedges and banks;

vi)

the number of vehicles accessing the site

and their frequency.

Visual Impact
a) Intrusive features can include weighbridges,
chimney stacks, office accommodation, skip storage
areas, fixed plant, operational and tipping areas and
litter-trap fencing. Visual intrusion can be
substantially reduced by careful site design
particularly by consideration of the effect of the
development on the skyline. Visual intrusion can
also be reduced by taking account of existing natural
screening features and local topography in the site
design.

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b) Many of biological treatment plants are housed in

'warehouse' type clad steel buildings, however use
of good design techniques must be considered to
help minimise visual intrusion.

2)

Plant Size Considerations

a) Biological treatment plants can be built for a wide
range of capacities. The chosen scale will reflect the

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

tonnage necessary to meet local waste strategy

targets and make the facility profitable within the
conditions of the contract.
b) Most biological treatment facilities in this context
will be associated with MBT plant and the capacities
of which may range anywhere from 15,000 tonnes
per annum to 500,000 tonnes per annum.
c) The scale of the biological process must take into
account the total material throughput and the
residence time of the material in the biological
process. In general anaerobic digestion processes
require shorter residence times and so are smaller in
scale. However, often anaerobic digestion facilities
will need to be followed by an aerobic (composting)
process to complete stabilisation and dry the
digestate.
d) The parameters detailed in Table 1 must be
taken into consideration during the design stage of a
biological treatment plant and in deciding site
location and infrastructure requirements.

b) All aspects of the construction of engineered

containment and drainage will be submitted to the
Competent Agency for approval prior to the
commencement of the construction works.
c) All aspects of the construction of engineered
containment and drainage shall be subject to
Construction Quality Assurance, carried out by an
independent organisation, to ensure construction is
compliant with the required technical specification as
laid out in the Construction Quality Assurance Plan.
d) The CQA plan must be able to verify;
i)

that materials used comply with site specific

specifications;

ii)

that the method of construction and

installation is appropriate and design
requirements have been met.

c) The CQA plan must contain the;

i)

material and construction specifications laid

out for the proposed buildings and
pavement areas;

Table 1: Biological Treatment Facility Design

Parameters
ii)
Aerobic
(Composting)
Processes

Anaerobic
(Biogas)
Processes

testing
methods
compliance;

iii)

testing frequency;

Up to 250

Up to 250

iv) corrective action

necessary;

Buildings m2/t/yr

0.05 to 0.1

0.05 to 0.1

Vessels/Building
Height

8 to 20m*

8 to 25m**

Family Type

Capacity
t/yr

000

v)

e) The size of a compost site will depend on the

composting system selected. For example, an invessel system requires less land space than a static
pile or windrow system. Site size will also depend on
the amount of storage that will be provided. At a
minimum, four months of storage space must be
available at the site.

3)

used

to

be

to

confirm

taken

where

appropriate documentation procedures

which outline what has been done.

d) The CQA must be provided for:

i)

all elements of basal containment

engineering, including internal floor slabs,
external pavement areas and bunded
areas;

ii)

surface
water
and
management systems.

* Taller buildings/vessels indicated are for vertical

composting technology
** Lower building/vessels indicated are for horizontal
digesters

PME Reference

groundwater

e) The production of the CQA plan, and all testing

and reporting must be completed under the control
of a suitably qualified Chartered Engineer. On
completion, a validation report must be produced
and submitted to the Competent Agency which must
include;
i)

demonstration
of
CQA
compliance
throughout the construction period;

ii)

justifications for any changes or deviations

from the agreed plan;

iii)

the results of all testing - this must include

the records of any failed tests with a written
explanation, and details of the remedial
action taken, referenced to the appropriate
secondary testing;

Construction Quality Assurance (CQA)

a) The technical specifications for all aspects of
engineered containment and drainage must be
derived from engineering and environmental risk
assessments and will ensure all pollution prevention
and control measures will be designed to meet with
best practice.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

vii) communication with local residents if an

odour problem arises or is likely to arise.

iv) plans showing the location of all tests;

v)

e) Design controls must be in place to control bioaerosol

emissions.
Bio-aerosols
are
more
associated with the agitation of dry materials.
However, emissions can be controlled through the
use of enclosed vessels, and negative pressure
within buildings. Most or all of such emissions from a
biological treatment facility should be mostly
absorbed by the odour treatment systems.

"As-built" plans and sections of the works;

vi) copies of the site engineers daily records;

vii) records of any problems or noncompliances and the solution applied;
viii) any other site specific information
considered relevant to proving the integrity
of the facility construction.

4)

f) Gaseous emissions from in-vessel composting

systems consist predominantly of;

Emission Controls
a) The primary emissions from biological treatment
plants are;
i)

emissions to air;

ii)

the limited potential for discharges to

water by leachate;

iii)

land impacts from the application of soil

conditioners.

b) Design measures must be put in place to

minimise the nuisance arising from the biological
treatment plant in relation to emissions of dust and
odour.
c) All of the potential impacts of a biological
treatment plant must be identified during conceptual
model development and refined during the
Authorisation Process. Detailed measures to
mitigate the impacts must be included in the plant
design and set out in the Working Plan.
d) As part of the Working Plan an Odour
Management Plan must be developed and
maintained including;
i)

control measures to prevent or control

odour;

ii)

demonstration/justification that there will not

be an odour problem under normal
conditions;

iii)

a description or copy of any conditions or

limits put in place by the Competent Agency
which relate to the prevention or
minimisation of odour;

iv) identification of the actions to be taken in

the event of abnormal events or conditions
which might lead to odour, or potential
odour problems;
v)

5)

i)

carbon dioxide;

ii)

water vapour;

iii)

potentially small quantities of ammonia;

iv)

volatile organic compounds;

v)

particulates;

vi)

bio-aerosols such as fungi, bacteria,

actinomycetes, endotoxin, mycotoxins
and glucans.

Wastewater Design Controls

a) The release of potentially harmful chemicals into
surface and/or ground water is only likely where
there is uncontrolled leachate and/or run off from the
working areas contaminated with waste materials.
b) Biological treatment facilities must be designed to
incorporate tight control measures of such emissions
through;
i)

extensive impermeable surfaces;

ii)

drainage;

iii)

hygiene procedures.

c) Leachate generated during the composting

process must be re-circulated within the process for
in-vessel composting processes, having only a net
liquid loss throughout the system.
d) The following considerations must be taken into
account when designing a biological treatment
facility to ensure protection of surface and
groundwater resources;
i)

leachate management and monitoring

systems;

ii)

impermeable
hardstanding
where
waste is to be stored, handled or
treated;

iii)

measures to control diesel, oil or

chemical spillage;

an understanding of the impact in the event

of abnormal events or conditions;

vi) monitoring undertaken;

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

iv)

Storage Standard and the Waste Regulatory Control

and Compliance Standard.

separate drainage systems for clean

and dirty site run-off.

b) All labelling must be resilient enough to stay

attached and legible throughout the whole time of
storage at the installation.

Article VI - Operations

c) A daily inspection of the condition of containers

and pallets must be undertaken and written records
kept of these inspections. If a container is found to
be damaged, leaking or in a state of deterioration, it
must immediately be over-drummed or the contents
transferred to another container or processed.

a) The actual plant operation of biological treatment

facilities will differ considerably between technology
providers and the process employed. Provisions in
this Standard relating to specific biological treatment
facilities must be met in addition to generic
operational considerations which are applicable to
all types of biological treatment facilities.

d) Containers must be stored in such a manner that

leaks and spillages could not escape over
bunds/edge of the sealed drainage area.

b) Typical operational parameters for a biological

treatment facility are detailed in Table 2 below:
Table
2:
Biological
Operational Parameters

Treatment

Aerobic
(Composting)
Processes

Anaerobic
(Biogas)
Processes

Capacity
t/yr

0.1 to 0.8

0.1 to 0.8

Operational staff
required
per
1000 tonnes

0.5 to 1.0

0.2 to 0.4

Vehicle
movements per
tonne

0.1 to 0.3

0.1 to 0.3

3)

Depends on the average payloads of delivery

vehicles

i)

documented
procedures
to
control
operations that may have an adverse
impact on the environment;

ii)

a defined procedure for identifying,

reviewing and prioritising items of plant for
which a preventative maintenance regime is
appropriate;

iii)

documented procedures
emissions or impacts;

Working Plan
a) A Site Specific Working Plan, required in
accordance
with the site specific
waste
management licence application must be developed
and forwarded to the Competent Agency for review
and agreement prior to operations commencing on
the site.
b) The Working Plan will constitute the documentary
procedures which will be used to control all aspects
of work on site. Issues to be considered and
included within the Working Plan are outlined below
in the following sections.

2)

Maintenance
a) As a minimum, effective maintenance systems
must be employed on all aspects of the facility
where failure could impact on the environment.
There must be;

Depends on the amount of automated materials

handling ands nature of process

1)

e) The operator of the biological treatment facility

must take all necessary precautions concerning the
delivery and reception of waste in order to prevent
or to limit as far as practicable negative effects on
the environment, in particular the pollution of air,
soil, surface water and groundwater as well as
odours and noise, and direct risks to human health.

Facility

Family Type

000

PME Reference

monitoring

iv) a planned preventative maintenance

programme covering all plant, whose failure
could lead to impact on the environment.
b) Routine testing and monitoring of the biological
treatment facility must be carried out in order to
maintain high-quality operation of the processes and
prevent harmful emissions to the environment. At a
minimum the following must be monitored where
relevant to the particular type of biological process:
i)

compost mass temperatures;

ii)

oxygen concentrations in the compost

mass;

iii)

moisture content;

iv)

particle size;

Waste Handling
a) Waste delivered to the biological treatment facility
by waste transporters must be managed in
accordance with the requirements in the Waste
Classification Standard, the Waste Handling and

for

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4)

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

verified through site checks and microbial analysis

of samples.

v)

maturity of the compost;

vi)

pH;

vii)

soluble salts;

viii)

ammonia;

ix)

organic and volatile materials content.

5)

b) Additional training must be provided to all staff

working within the confines of the treatment facility
with respect to;

a) Any biological treatment facility producing a

stabilised organic output to land must meet the
following operational requirements for processing
animal by-products including putrescible waste
containing meat.
Table 3: Minimum Operational Requirements for
Biological Treatment of Animal By-Products

57C; 5 hour; max

particle size 50mm

At least 18 days
storage (may be in
the open)

Composting* (any two

process stages listed
below)
Enclosed reactor 70C for
at least 1 hour with a
maximum particle size of
60mm
Enclosed reactor 60C for
at least 2 days with a
maximum particle size of
400mm
Housed (if first stage) or
open air (if second stage)
turned piles. 60C; 2 days
achieved
4
times
consecutively, with a turning
between each; max particle
size of 400mm

* Two processing stages can be achieved in one

reactor where an internal mixing process is used.
b) Premises must be enclosed from the point of
waste reception until at least the completion of the
first processing stage.
c) The treatment facility must prevent access to
animals and birds, which could act as potential
pathogen vectors.
d) Partially or fully treated material must not be
contaminated with any material that has been
treated to a lesser extent.
e) There must be no way that any untreated or
partially treated materials can by-pass the
pasteurisation and storage stages within the system.
f) To ensure all these process and hygiene
standards are met, strict operating, monitoring, and
hygiene procedures must be followed according to a
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
plan. The HACCP plans must be developed and

Competence and Training

a) The Technical Competence and training of
operatives involved in biological treatment facilities
must be undertaken in accordance with the Waste
Training and Assessment of Technical Competence
of Operators Standard.

Treatment of Animal By-Products

Anaerobic
Digestion
(one process stage
below, plus storage)
70C; 1 hour; max
particle size 60mm

PME Reference

i)

health and Safety and the individual

responsibilities that all have for the safety of
others;

ii)

understanding of the environmental impacts

that their work could have and provision of
instructions to assist in reducing these
impacts.

c) Personnel at composting facilities must be trained

so they understand all aspects of the composting
process. Employees should appreciate the public
relations impact the facility may have, and they
should be taught to portray a positive image at all
times. Employees should also understand the
environmental impacts of the finished compost and
liquid/gas release to the atmosphere.

6)

Accident Plans
a) An Accident Plan must be in place (reviewed at
least once every three years, or in the event of an
accident) which identifies;
i)

the likelihood
accidents;

and

consequence

of

ii)

actions to prevent accidents and mitigate

any consequences.

b) The Accident Plan will;

i)

identify the potential on-site accident

hazards;

ii)

provide an assessment of the risks;

iii)

identify necessary
measures;

iv)

specify the risk management measures

that are used at the treatment facility;

v)

include contingency actions to be

undertaken in the event of an accident to
mitigate consequences.

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management

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7)

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

within the site and the measures to be adopted to

reduce those noise impacts.

Compliance Reporting
a) Written procedures must be in place for handling,
investigating, communicating and reporting actual or
potential non-compliance with operating procedures
or emission limits.

10)

c) There must be written procedures for investigating

incidents, (and near misses) including identifying
suitable corrective action and follow up.
Site Security

i)

emissions of dust;

ii)

wind-blown materials;

iii)

the formation of aerosols.

b) Site operations must have due regard to the need

to control dirt originating from the site being
dispersed onto public roads and the surrounding
land.

a) The biological treatment facility must be secured

to prevent free access to the site.
b) The gates of the facility must be locked outside
operating hours.

c) All of the potential impacts of a biological

treatment facility must be identified during
conceptual model development and refined during
the Authorisation Process. Detailed measures to
mitigate the impacts must be included in the design
of the facility and set out in the Working Plan.

c) Access to each facility must be controlled by

systems to detect and discourage illegal dumping at
the facility.
9)

Control of Air-borne Nuisance

a) Measures must be put in place to minimise the

nuisance arising from the biological treatment facility
in relation to;

b) There must be written procedures for handling,

investigating,
communicating
and
reporting
environmental complaints and implementation of
appropriate actions.

8)

PME Reference

d) As a minimum, procedures must be in place to

deal with particulate matter arising from;

Noise
a) In addition to meeting all requirement of the
National Noise standards, an operator must also
observe the conditions in (b) (d) below.

i)

the placement of wastes;

ii)

traffic on site roads;

b) Measures must be taken to minimise the

nuisance arising from the biological treatment facility
in relation to noise pollution.

iii)

site
preparation
activities;

the main sources of noise and vibration that

will fall within the installation and also on
infrequent sources of noise and vibration;

ii)

operating
facility;

iii)

the nearest noise-sensitive sites;

timescales

iv) conditions/limits
regimes;
v)

of

imposed

the

v)

f) Operators must be made aware of Aspergillus

fumigatus, a fungus naturally present in decaying
organic matter. Spores from the fungus can cause
health problems for some workers, particularly if
conditions are dry and dusty. Workers susceptible to
respiratory problems or with impaired immune
systems are not good candidates for working in
composting facilities.

other

the local noise environment;

vi) any environmental noise measurement

surveys, modelling or any other noise
measurements;

carriage of dust/mud onto the highway.

e) Dust suppression must be provided including the

availability of bowsers and water supplies. Leachate
must not be used for dust suppression.

treatment

under

restoration

iv) surface emissions;

c) Where noise issues are likely to be relevant, the

Operator must provide information on the following;
i)

and

11)

Odour

vii) any specific local issues and proposals for

improvements.

a) As one of the most conspicuous potential

emissions of any biological treatment of
biodegradable waste, odour needs extremely careful
consideration.

d) Where there are sensitive receptors present, a

Noise Management Plan must be developed which
provides details on how noise will be managed

b) Offensive odours may be generated during the

active stage of composting. Process air must be

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

reduce the risk of infestation by prompt treatment of

such wastes.

routed through filters, deodorizers, or scrubbers

before it is exhausted to the atmosphere.
c) Operational measures must be put in place to
minimise the nuisance arising from the biological
treatment plant in relation to emissions of dust and
odour which may be attributed to the following
activities;
i)

delivery of feedstock, which may have

been stored for long periods, and/or
contained in air-tight bags trapping
odour build-up;

ii)

feedstock shredding;

iii)

exhaust air from enclosed systems;

iv)

anaerobic conditions in composting

materials;

v)

untreated pools of leachate (nutrientrich high organic content liquids

produced from decomposing materials,
and run-off during rainfall);

vi)

fresh
and
partially
composted
materials that are left untreated without
aeration for periods of time causing
anaerobic decomposition; anaerobic
conditions must therefore be kept to a
minimum.

d) Dust and odour emissions must be minimised by

performing all operations under controlled conditions
indoors where practical, good working practices and
effective management undertaken for dust
suppression from vehicle movements.
e) A regular odour impact assessment must be
undertaken by the Operator. The impact
assessment must cover a range of reasonably
foreseeable odour generation and receptor
exposure scenarios and the effect of different
mitigation options.

12)

PME Reference

13)

Control of Leaks and Spillages

a) Where spillages of dry wastes occur, these must
be cleared by either manual or mechanical means,
for example handpicking, sweeping or shovelling,
depending on the size and location of the spillage.
b) Minor spillages of liquid must be contained using
spillage kits or any suitable readily available
absorbent material. This material must be disposed
of in a manner appropriate to the type of material
absorbed.
c) A record must be maintained in the site diary of
any spillages so treated.
d) In the event of a major spillage the site drains
must be sealed off where possible and a specialist
contractor brought on site to clear the spillage.
e) The Competent Agency must be informed of any
major spillage event and a record made in the site
diary.
f) Spillage kits and other emergency equipment
must be stored in the appropriate areas of the site.
The Competent Agency must be informed of the
location and content of this equipment prior to the
commencement of waste treatment operations at
the site.

14)

Fire Prevention and Control

a) All fires on site must be treated as a potential
emergency and dealt with accordingly. Fires may
occur due to plant failure or combustible material
within stored wastes or process products being
ignited (potentially through vandalism).
b) Small fires may, if possible, be safely brought
under control using fire-fighting equipment present
on site.

Control of Pests, Vermin and Birds

a) Biological treatment facilities are unlikely to attract
pests, vermin and birds. However, during hot
weather it is possible that flies could accumulate,
especially if they have been brought in during
delivery of the waste.

c) In the event of a fire that cannot be easily or

safely brought under control then the site Fire
Emergency Procedure will be put into action. This
procedure will be developed with the local Fire
Authority and will be in place prior to any wastes
being treated at the site.

b) Effective housekeeping and on site management

of tipping and storage areas is essential to minimise
the risk from vermin and other pests. Where
possible, waste heat from the process must be used
to bring temperatures in fresh input waste to levels
above which flies can live.

d) Fire fighting equipment of a suitable type shall be

kept at appropriate locations as advised by the
Company Health and Safety Department and/or the
local Fire Authority.

c) Insect infestations commonly arise from waste

which has been awaiting collection for some time.
Procedures must be put in place to prevent or limit
the acceptance of such wastes. The Operator must

e) The locations of fire fighting equipment and

materials will be detailed in the Fire Emergency
Plan.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

f) All fire fighting equipment must be kept in good

condition, unobstructed and maintained to a
standard as required by the local Fire Authority.

x)

severe weather conditions;

xi)

complaints;

g) Any fire arising on site must be reported to the

Competent Agency as soon as possible, having due
regard firstly to any steps necessary to tackle the fire
and its immediate consequences. A record of the
occurrence of a fire must also be maintained in the
site diary, along with any actions taken.

xii)

pest or vermin incidents.

b) The Site Manager or nominated person must

maintain a record of the above information in the site
diary as required.
c) The site diary must be kept in the site control
office at all times and made available for inspection
at all reasonable times by any officer of the
Competent Agency.

h) Following approval by the Fire Authority and/or

site manager the residues from the fire will be
disposed of accordingly at a suitable licensed waste
management facility.
i) Any contaminated water arising from fire fighting
within the waste treatment building or bunded areas
must be collected and disposed of to an appropriate
facility.

3)

Format of Records
a) The terms Record, Log Book and Site Diary may
be kept as, but not limited to;

Article VII Record Keeping

1)

Waste Movement Records

a) A record of the types and quantities (in tonnes) of
wastes received at the site, and wastes/process
products removed from the site must be maintained
and kept in the site office.
4)
b) A summary of the types and quantities of wastes
deposited at the site and waste residues removed
from the site must be provided to the Competent
Agency at an agreed frequency and in an agreed
format.

2)

PME Reference

Records of Significant Events

a) The following
recorded, on site;

significant

must

be

i)

the start and finish of any construction

and engineering works undertaken on
site;

ii)

start and finish of waste management

processes carried out on site;

iii)

maintenance;

iv)

breakdowns;

v)

emergencies;

vi)

problems with waste received and

action taken;

vii)

site inspections;

viii)

attendance of technically competent

management on site;

ix)

despatch of records to the Competent

Agency;

hand generated log;

ii)

computer generated hard copies;

iii)

floppy Disc;

iv)

on an unalterable disk or similar format.

Security of Records
a) To ensure the security of records they must be
housed in either locked containers or kept in offices
that shall be locked when not attended.

5)
events

i)

Archiving of Records
a) Copies of all records relating to wastes
movements and product sales must be kept by the
Site Manager for at least 2 years, before archiving.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix A
Pre-Design Report Requirements for Authorisation

The report must describe the design parameters of the

biological treatment facility plant and must contain as a
minimum details of the following:
(i)
(ii)

(iii)
(iv)
(v)

(vi)

(vii)

(viii)

(ix)

(x)

(xi)

(xii)

Legal details for ownership of the site

An up to date plan and description of the site
and the area within 500 metres of the site that
covers:
a. all property and property boundaries
b. all buildings, roads and utility corridors
c. land contours, surface water drainage,
water bodies, rights-of-way and other
easements,
d. forested areas,
e. land uses and land use designations,
and
f. property conditions not
otherwise
covered in subclauses (a) to (e)
A plan and description of the biological
treatment plant and process
Details of the total waste disposal volume
A full hydrogeological assessment of the
suitability of the site that considers the
geologic and hydrogeologic conditions of the
site, the design of the site and the monitoring
and contingency plans
A detailed assessment of the potential
impacts on surface water features that may
be caused by the site or operations at the site
Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of the system for collecting,
directing and discharging surface water,
including details of any sediment control or
other features and including construction,
quality assurance and quality control
procedures for the system components and
system installation
Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of monitoring facilities for air
emissions, ground water and surface water
An assessment of potential noise impacts
due to operations at the site and to local
trucking related to operations at the site,
including an evaluation of any proposed noise
control measures
An assessment of potential visual impacts on
nearby properties due to the site and site
operations
Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of the buffer area and ancillary
facilities,
including
any
screening,
landscaping, fencing, weigh scales, buildings,
structures, access roads, internal roads,
holding areas for cover material, holding
areas for rejected waste or materials for
recycling, and other holding areas
Detailed
plans,
specifications
and
descriptions of the contaminant attenuation
zone, if one is necessary

(xiii)

(xiv)

(xv)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Contingency plans that can be implemented

to control and dispose of emissions produced
in a quantity greater than expected or with a
quality worse than expected, including
specifications and descriptions in sufficient
detail to demonstrate the feasibility of the
plans
A site closure plan, including details of the
proposed end use of the site, the appearance
of the site after closure, revegetation,
landscaping, the construction of new facilities,
and the removal of existing facilities to
facilitate closure, post-closure care and site
end use
A summary of the main characteristics of the
treatment plant, including the maximum daily
quantity of waste that will be accepted for
treatment, the estimated annual average
quantity of waste that will be accepted for
treatment, the area of the facility and land
take, the total waste volume, the estimated
waste treatment capacity in tonnes, and any
subcategories of waste that are not expected
to be received or that will not be accepted for
treatment.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix B
Environmental Assessment Requirements

An environmental assessment of the proposed biological

treatment facility is required to gain a thorough
understanding of the existing environment at the site in
order to develop a sound treatment design. This
assessment must examine the impact of the proposed
treatment facility on the air, groundwater, surface water
and noise environments, and should be based on at least
two to three years of data.

c.
d.

fire-fighting equipment and water supply

wheel washes.

If, following an environmental assessment, the site is

identified as unsuitable the proposal should not proceed
any further. For the purposes of siting a treatment facility,
an environmental assessment should contain:
(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Meteorological data, including rainfall,

monthly evaporation, seasonal wind strength
and direction
Hydrogeological assessment in accordance
with
EPA
Publication
Hydrogeological
Assessments (Groundwater Quality), which
includes:
a. local and regional geology
b. spatial distribution of groundwater (local
and regional if watertable is artificially
depressed)
c. depth to groundwater (current and after
any rebound if the watertable is artificially
depressed) and watertable elevation
d. groundwater gradient and flow direction
e. description of groundwater interaction
with
f. local surface waters
g. aquifer physical properties:
i. permeability
ii. aquifer thickness
iii. saturated thickness
iv. porosity.
h. aquifer chemical properties:
i. mineralogy
ii. cation exchange and sorption
capacity.
i. groundwater quality (local and regional if
aquifer is likely to have been impacted on
by previous activities)
j. beneficial uses of groundwater to be
protected
k. groundwater use in the surrounding area
l. predicted extent and degree of impacts
on groundwater quality during and after
operation of the facility
m. verification that beneficial uses are not
adversely impacted at the site, or at the
boundary of an attenuation zone where
designated.
Water Management, including:
a. water balance for the site and estimated
volume of leachate to be generated
b. leachate collection, storage facilities,
treatment and disposal

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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