4 days ago
Clogs cause chaos
More than 5,000 sewerage reports were logged in Bahrain in the first half of 2025, as the Ministry of Works warned that fats and oils from restaurants and garages are clogging drains and causing overflows.
Engineer Abdulnabi Hassan Al Koofi, Director of the Sanitary Engineering Operations and Maintenance Directorate, said 5,056 reports were handled on receipt.
The Capital Governorate recorded 1,835, the Northern 1,289, Muharraq 1,065 and the Southern 867.
Cases
He linked many cases to areas with large numbers of food outlets and vehicle workshops.
Food scraps and cooking fats poured into drains harden and stick to pipe walls, building up until lines block and sewage overflows.
The same occurs when lubricants from garages run into sewer lines.
Hotline
Reports reach the Sanitary Engineering Operations and Maintenance Directorate via the sewerage emergency hotline and the National Suggestions and Complaints System (Tawasul).
Teams take details, inspect foul-sewer manholes and stormwater inlets where needed, and carry out remedial work.
The ministry works with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, the municipal councils and the Capital Municipality to require restaurants, shops and garages to fit grease and oil traps and to dispose of waste correctly.
Coordination with the Commercial Registration directorate and municipal councils holds non-compliant outlets to account, and judicial enforcement campaigns have been stepped up to limit oil dumping.
Complaints
Al Koofi urged the public to file complaints through the eGovernment portal ( the Ministry of Works website ( and Tawasul, or by calling the control and reporting centre on 80001810.
A mobile service is also available for viewing ministry services and information.
He added that the sanitary engineering sector is expanding networks across the governorates to meet demand and improve service reliability for citizens and residents.
