In response to concerns about Qatar’s water supply, the country has announced plans to build five “mega” reservoirs on the outskirts of Doha by 2016, Construction Week Online reports.

The project could cost up to $2.7 billion and will involve building the world’s largest water tanks, national utility company Kahramaa has said.

Though it is a desert country with only a 48-hour emergency water supply, Qatar’s water usage is among the highest in the world per capita.

Aware of its high consumption and the growing demand for water among its burgeoning population, Qatar aims to build up a seven-day water supply with these new tanks. 

Each reservoir will have the capacity to hold Rome’s Coliseum, Sydney’s Opera House, or six A340 planes, said international company Hyder Consulting, which will provide engineering and environmental services on the project.

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