Muscat – An alarming red tide outbreak in South Batinah has compromised water production capacity of Barka desalination plant. 

Responding to this urgent situation, Nama Water Services (NWS) has called on its subscribers ‘to rationalise water consumption until seawater quality improves’.

In a statement on Monday, NWS said the red tide phenomenon has significantly disrupted Barka’s main desalination plant. Consequently, there’s been a reduction and even cessation in desalinated water production.

Addressing the impact of the red tide, NWS confirmed that the operating companies are implementing several precautionary measures. These are aimed at ensuring both safety of the plant and quality of water produced.

To mitigate the effect on subscribers, NWS has activated emergency plans. These include operation of alternative sources and reserve wells, and interconnection activation between desalination plants in Sohar, Barka and Ghubra.

NES can be contacted for any inquiries via its call centre at 1442.

Red tides are harmful algal blooms, which occur when colonies of algae – plant-like organisms that live in the sea and freshwater – grow out of control, producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds.