This whole process is carried out in 5 stages which are briefly described below:

Preliminary Treatment: In this process fine step screens are used to remove plastic bags, rags
etc. and grit tanks are used to remove grits and sands from the large amount of liquid sewage.
Primary Treatment: This is a physical process where solids are removed from the sewage. This
process takes place in the primary settlement tanks.
Biological Treatment: In this step bacteria and other micro-organisms are used to remove
suspended and dissolved matter in the sewage. Oxygen is introduced to the liquor by surface
aerators for the bacteria to grow and then the flow goes to the secondary settlement tank. Here
the solids are settled and the sludge is then diverted to the consolidating tank for further
treatment.
Tertiary Treatment: This treatment consists of physical and chemical processes where the fine
solids are filtered from the sewage through a sand medium and later chlorine is used to disinfect
the water to kill the bacteria. This treated water is then reused all over Abu Dhabi for irrigation
and landscaping purposes.
Biosolids Treatment: Here the sludge that were produced in the primary and biological treatment
are treated. This process includes thickening of the biosolids, stabilization and eliminating the
bacteria then finally dewatering either by drying beds or mechanically by centrifuge de-watering
system. These solids are then used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes.

MBR
In a conventional WWTP, the secondary clarifier limits the solids concentration in the aeration
tank. The MBR replaces secondary clarification in a conventional wwtp. MBRs separate
biologically treated effluent from the mixed liquor utilizing membranes to perform the
separation. The membranes allow the purified water to pass through the pores, while creating a
complete barrier to the passage of any solid greater than 0.4 microns, which include almost all
bacteria and suspended solids. In an MBR the membranes create a solids barrier and therefore
the process is not subject to gravity settling solids limitations, as in conventional clarifiers.
MBRs are limited instead by the fluid dynamics of high solid mixed liquor, and the effect on
oxygen transfer.
Effluent is passed through a screen to remove solids. An equalization tank is included to handle
variation in flows so that the MBR can be sized to treat the average daily flow. The membranes
are submerged in the aeration tank. Filtrate is drawn through the membranes using a suction
pump. Biomass is removed using a sludge pump. Air blowers supply air for the biological
process, to scrub the membranes and to uniformly distribute suspended solids throughout the
aeration tank.