Posted by Callum Vallance-Poole, on September 3, 2024.
South al-Mutlaa, a new city rising from the desert sands of Kuwait, is home to 400,000 residents spread across 12 suburbs and 28,363 buildings. This ambitious development represents Kuwait’s largest construction project to date, and the GRAF group has proven to be the perfect partner for such a monumental undertaking. Since construction began in 2018, GRAF, a leader in stormwater management, has supplied over a million EcoBloc Maxx crates. The project features fifteen infiltration systems, with capacities ranging from 6,000 to 55,000 m³, capable of managing the flow of more than 200 million litres of stormwater.
The driving force behind this Kuwaiti mega project is the vision to “Think BIG.” Located in the Jahra District, approximately 40km from Kuwait City, South al-Mutlaa is the government’s response to the national housing shortage crisis. The project aims to reduce waiting times for housing and lower both purchase prices and rental costs.
Planned and executed in record time, the urban area covers 104 km² – comparable to the size of Paris. In addition to housing for up to 400,000 people, the city will feature 156 mosques, 144 public parks, 116 schools, 48 shopping precincts, and 12 public health centres.
Kuwait’s climate presents unique challenges for urban development. With temperatures soaring to 47°C and 92% of the country consisting of desert, Kuwait is among the world’s driest regions. The mean annual rainfall is just 120 mm, though it can fluctuate dramatically between 10 and 220mm.
In recent years, Kuwait has experienced an increase in heavy rainfall events. The existing sewer systems are ill-equipped to handle these unexpected volumes, and the slow drainage into the Gulf has led to severe flooding and damage in the past.
South al-Mutlaa’s inland location and the compact, nearly impermeable soil necessitate infiltration systems capable of holding one billion litres of stormwater. Most of these systems have been installed beneath public parks, with some requiring earth coverings as deep as 6 metres due to the site’s size and geological conditions.
GRAF is the only European manufacturer directly commissioned by the Ministry to supply materials for the infiltration system. Global Sales Director Dieter Kwasny explained, “The installation depths, earth coverings, and ambient temperature demand the highest quality infiltration crates.” The quality of both the plastic and the system has been rigorously verified through documentation, certified in-house inspection standards, external monitoring, and direct discussions with the Ministry.
The GRAF project team supported local partners with documentation, system permits, CIRIA standards, site logistics, and training of site personnel.
GRAF’s years of experience in calculating, planning, and delivering large-scale projects were crucial in securing this contract. The company’s high and flexible production capacity, coupled with the excellent logistical properties of its modular system, allows for on-demand shipments.
The installation process began with laying geotextile on a layer of gravel in the prepared base. The crates were then installed and the entire structure wrapped with geotextile. The easy-to-assemble crates were connected on a nearly horizontal plane and combined into a highly stable block. Their low installation height and modularity allowed for optimal use of the available space. The final infiltration system was installed in November 2021.