[EDIT! After all this discussions about power lines which were posted in the jumeirah village thread, i decided to split this thread and create a new one about discussions on power lines

feel free to discuss what you like or don't like about this]

EDITED BY DUBAI-LOVER




When I used to work at the power plant in Jebel Ali, one of the first things I asked them waas why the Overhead Electricity cables hadnt been put underground, seeing as how the whole area was being developed. Sadly enough, I was told that there were no plans at all in the near future to relocate the overhead cables or place them underground as they were too close to the power plant and need to be easily accessible incase of a fault.

Even in areas like Towar and Qusais, you will find them running along side 5 storey buildings. It looks odd, but I think they have to be kept that way.

Sad, but true!

-Face81
:jippo:

that's really sad, becuase it really looks crappy and all of the prokects down there have a view on these

but i really guess they will do something, even if it takes time

that's really sad, becuase it really looks crappy and all of the prokects down there have a view on these

but i really guess they will do something, even if it takes time

They might eventually, but even people that live on the west end of Dubai Marina habe a very clear view of Jebel Ali Power Plant. And its not very pretty. That is Dubais main power plant and it will be around for a very, very long time. So good luck to all those poor people that have to look at their windows and look at that. :runaway:

-Face81
:jippo:

I don't mind the power lines as much as the power plant. Especially if you bought an apartment in the Marina and you are looking STRAIGHT at it

I don't mind the power lines as much as the power plant. Especially if you bought an apartment in the Marina and you are looking STRAIGHT at it

which unfortunately, a fair few people will be! And on days when the air is clear, they will be able to look right into Dubal and the rest of JAFZ.....Lucky them!

-Face81
:jippo:

Does it has an affect like the mobile coverage antennas on the people

Does it has an affect like the mobile coverage antennas on the people

ONLY if ur living directly underneath them. Driving by has no affect, but prolonged exposure UNDER overhead cables can cause serious damage.

-Face81
:jippo:

Thanks very usfull information.

Its not only those things which annoyes people, also the cement factory which is near al quoz area, I wonder when they will remove it.

Does it has an affect like the mobile coverage antennas on the people

What do they do??

there is a lot of old stuff around. not only at marina jlt area
on jumeirah beach road there are a lot of decayed houses that look really bad. i've mentioned it once. have a look at the area behind beach road when you leave "the village center" mall.
but even at jb road there are a lot of old houses that spoil the scenery

What do they do??

To make wot I was going to say seem more official, i decided to look it up for u:

"By far the cheapest way to transport electricity is by means of overhead cables, supported by large transmission towers or pylons. The towers themselves do not give off electromagnetic fields. It is the cables that are strung between them which emit magnetic and electric fields. The electric field is proportional to the line voltage, while the magnetic field depends on the load current. Typically, high voltage transmission lines carry high current and therefore give off both high electric and high magnetic fields.

Most 132kV and all lower voltage lines (e.g. 33kV, 11kV, 415 volts and 230 volts) are owned by the power companies. These may be British or international companies. There are two types of field produced by the powerlines. The electric field depends on the voltageand is there all the time, the magnetic field is caused by electric current flowing when people use electrical power and can therefore vary considerably.

Electric fields reduce with distance and are also stopped by most building materials. Electric fields from powerlines do not present a problem in a house, but they may be too high in a garden. In about 50% of the houses we have surveyed, we found high electric fields inside the house, caused by the way the houses were wired. When you get high electric and magnetic fields together, the health risk has been found to increase by a factor of up to 11-fold. We recommend you measure the EMF field levels.

For all practical purposes magnetic fields cannot be stopped and will travel through the walls of nearby buildings as if they were not there.
If you live within 200 metres from the cables between pylons, you may be living in fields which could affect you. High power lines may need greater clearance, some low power lines may need less, depending on factors such as how large the load is and whether the load is balanced. We strongly recommend you measure the EMF field levels.

Recent research at Bristol University shows that the electric fields surrounding overhead cables cause air ionisation, charging fine aerosols and particles which can include carcinogens (cancer-producing substances), which are then wind-blown or carried in the rain up to 500 metres or more down wind of a 400 kV electricity transmission line. They also charge these particles making them more likely to stick in your lungs.

We do not believe it is safe for children to play near high-voltage overhead lines above 11kV, especially with the new concerns about electric field aerosol effects. Evidence also shows that magnetic fields over 0.2 microtesla (200 nanotesla (nT), or 2 milliGauss (mG)) is associated with a doubling of the incidence of childhood leukaemia.

Underground powerline cables: The electric fields will be zero as they are screened by earth, concrete, sand etc. The magnetic fields are very high near to the cable, higher than from overhead cables because they are closer to you. They fall off more rapidly than the fields from overhead wires, because the cables are closer together and cancel out each other's effects more quickly.

Although research has shown there is an increased risk of illness in high fields, most people, including most children will not be seriously affected by them. It is important not to panic, but to take reasonable precautions.
Since 1979, there has been a lot of research into the effect that power-frequency electromagnetic fields have on human and animal health. This was triggered by an American study (Wertheimer & Leeper) that linked childhood leukaemia with living near to high power electricity wires. Most research has identified an increased risk of ill-health due to living or working in higher than average electromagnetic fields.

The health problems associated with these fields are cancer, especially childhood leukaemia, depression, Alzheimer's Disease and cognitive degeneration, (specifically memory and concentration loss), cot death, ME, electrical sensitivity, and other less serious effects. Research has been done on power-frequency electric and magnetic fields, looking at pylons, substations, occupational exposure, and electrical appliances in the home."

Thats all the problems they can cause in a nut-shell. Dont pack ur bags just yet all of u in South Dubai, u r all still a fair distance from them pylons. U r safe for now!

-Face81
:jippo:

there is a lot of old stuff around. not only at marina jlt area
on jumeirah beach road there are a lot of decayed houses that look really bad. i've mentioned it once. have a look at the area behind beach road when you leave "the village center" mall.
but even at jb road there are a lot of old houses that spoil the scenery

Those sort of things are common in any major Metropolis. Even in cities like NewYork and London, u will find old districts of the city that have some seriously bad looking and abandoned warehouses or homes. Its natural and its officially called Urban Decay.

The old houses are not as bad when compared to hideous power plants, overhead cables and cement factories.

I especially hate that "temporary" cement factory by Junction 5. Pity the Marina Residents that have to wake up to the sound of that every morning. :ohno:

-Face81
:jippo:

there is a lot of old stuff around. not only at marina jlt area
on jumeirah beach road there are a lot of decayed houses that look really bad. i've mentioned it once. have a look at the area behind beach road when you leave "the village center" mall.
but even at jb road there are a lot of old houses that spoil the scenery

Very true, especially part of Jumeirah Beach Road around Umm Suqeim. When we had visitors fly into the country, we showed them around Jumeirah/Umm Suqeim and when they kept seeing the old looking buildings they kept wondering why this was called an upscale district!

I am sure that someday all those staff will be removed.

Back to the subject, I wonder how much does it cost these villas, does anyone has an idea. It looks very private.

To make wot I was going to say seem more official, i decided to look it up for u:.........

Thanks for the info, is there any company here in Dubai that could check the fields in your house for you?
Suddenly the power lines seem a bit too close

I am sure that someday all those staff will be removed.

Back to the subject, I wonder how much does it cost these villas, does anyone has an idea. It looks very private.


Starts from around Dhs2.3million or so for a 2bed townhouse

there's another one at junction 6 at marina phase 1, in the middle of this crappy roundabout right next to phase 1
hope they will demolish this "provisional one" (i hope it is) soon and build a new 2-lane szr overfly with roundabout
when j islands and emirates living and jlt will be finsihed, there will be the biggest chaos on earth. it already is a big chaos down there. sometimes you need 15 minutes to get the way up to the overfly roundabout :rant:

Thanks for the info, is there any company here in Dubai that could check the fields in your house for you?
Suddenly the power lines seem a bit too close

No problem mate. I found some more scary info while I was doing some reading on the subject myself:

"Perhaps the most dangerous, damaging form of pollution facing Americans every minute of every day is invisible, soundless, and cannot be touched or felt. It is electromagnetic field radiation (EMF) and it is emanating from virtually every single electrical appliance, computer, electric wire, and especially high voltage lines (overhead and buried), which are carrying current. EMF is specifically causing cancer in children and in older adults and may be triggering countless other immune deficiency and psychological diseases and disorders in anyone in close proximity. Make no mistake about it: electric fields are bad news for your health and can be killers.

The government of Sweden funded an official, massive study of the effects of electric fields from overhead power lines on 500,000 people over a period of 25 years and found overwhelming evidence that electric fields generated cancer in children at 4 times the normal rate and tripled the rate in adults. Sweden lists electromagnetic fields (EMF) as Class 2 Carcinogens, right along with tobacco.

As far back as 1979, University of Colorado epidemiologist Nancy Wertheimer, Ph.D., firmly established a connection between low-voltage power lines in residential neighborhoods and instances of childhood leukemia. Her study showed that children living near these ordinary backyard variety power lines had three times the likelihood of developing childhood cancer. Larger gauge, high voltage transmission lines pose a much greater danger than typical backyard lines. Since then, many other studies have confirmed her findings and substantiated the link between 60hz AC electromagnetic radiation and increased risk of leukemia, lymphomas, and cancer of the brain and nervous system. Many scientists warn people not to live within 200 yards of high voltage power lines. Of 35 international research studies on electric field radiation, 33 established a conclusive link between brain tumors, leukemia, and other forms of cancer.

Scientists in Russia have done more studies on EMF than any other country and for decades have been reporting that electric fields cause high blood pressure, chronic stress effects, immune system dysfunction, changes in white and red blood cell counts, increased metabolism, chronic fatigue disorders, and headaches.

In 1990, The American Journal of Epidemiology published a study on the use of electric blankets which demonstrated "a quadrupling in the risk of brain tumors among children whose mothers slept under electric blankets during the first trimester of pregnancy."

Other studies report a clear linkage between EMF exposure and illnesses such as immune disorders, brain wave modification, and many other serious physical and psychological abnormalities and deficiencies. "

If I were u, i ud get on the phone to EMAAR and DEWA first thing tomorrow morning (or on saturday) and voice your concerns. It is quite scary now that I think about it. There are thousands of people living in that area. Does DEWA even realise the dangers of being in such close proximity to them pylons? :eek2:

Here is DEWA's telephone # for u: 04 - 324 44 44

This is a really MAJOR issue for the entire area. I am surprised that no-one brought this up sooner.

-Face81
:jippo:

there's another one at junction 6 at marina phase 1, in the middle of this crappy roundabout right next to phase 1
hope they will demolish this "provisional one" (i hope it is) soon and build a new 2-lane szr overfly with roundabout
when j islands and emirates living and jlt will be finsihed, there will be the biggest chaos on earth. it already is a big chaos down there. sometimes you need 15 minutes to get the way up to the overfly roundabout :rant:

I know that we have been over this before:rant:, but just look at Junction 5 after they closed off Road 331 (leading to Dubai College from SZR).....ITS A DISASTER. The traffic in Dubai is nightmarish at times! :rant:

God help us all during the DSF and with the new location of the Global Village on Emirates Road, who knows what joys lie in store for us commuters? :bash:

-Face81
:jippo:

well i've been talking about this all the time, but nobody seems to care, even not on this forum, until today ;)
so guys, you better take this serious, also you municipality people!

i knew it's carcinogenic

it's unhealthy and looks ugly

btw: very interesting article. thanks for your research

Dubai-Lover: I only really thought you hated them because of its visual appearance, I never fully realised how dangerous they were to people!
I'm going to spend some time finding out how close you have to be near one for it to be dangerous

well i've been talking about this all the time, but nobody seems to care, even not on this forum, until today ;)
so guys, you better take this serious, also you municipality people!

i knew it's carcinogenic

it's unhealthy and looks ugly

btw: very interesting article. thanks for your research


Dubai-Lover: I only really thought you hated them because of its visual appearance, I never fully realised how dangerous they were to people!
I'm going to spend some time finding out how close you have to be near one for it to be dangerous

Glad to have been of assistanceto the 2 of u. Please do look into this Juiced and share all the details with us. Get those EMAAR people to give u some answers!!!

-Face81
:jippo:

What about those dirty yellow transformers/substation/whatever they're called that you see around some residential areas? They are like a big box, maybe 4m by 4m

What about those dirty yellow transformers/substation/whatever they're called that you see around some residential areas? They are like a big box, maybe 4m by 4m

Not sure what ur refering to mate. Any chance of a slighlt more accurate description? Or hows about a pic?

I am off now......get that pic sorted and we can get stuck in tomorrow.

2 days b4 uni opens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cry: :cry: :cry:

-Face81
:jippo:

Glad to have been of assistanceto the 2 of u. Please do look into this Juiced and share all the details with us. Get those EMAAR people to give u some answers!!!

-Face81
:jippo:

i guess we should and have to teach them what these power lines will affect on people!!!

Face81

Mashallah you are very well educated, thanks for all this information.

Dubai-Lover: Do you remember the houses you went to look at in Meadows 9? They were on the first street on the right as soon as you pass the gate, Villa 11 or something. When you looked out at the garden, do you remember seeing a dirty yellow box not within the garden but just over the garden wall?
Do you know what they're called? That's what I'm talking about but I dunno its name


Face81- I'll definitely call EMAAR about this, if not tomorrow then on Saturday and I'll let you know what happens

Face81

Mashallah you are very well educated, thanks for all this information.

LOL......Thanks (or Shukran) I guess! I am an Electrical Engineer after all! hehehehe

-Face81
:jippo:

yes, i know, i also hated this box!!!

i guess it's some kind of water, electricity supply. not sure. it was just ugly and if i rememeber well it was all alone in the sand, about 50m away from the buildings?

They are dotted all over the Meadows and Springs. I wish I could find out what they were called, can't find any pics on the net of them either, once I know its name I'll have to find out if they're hazardous or not

i don't think they're dangerous. al maha desert resort has the same, but surrounded with palm leaves. this is water, electricity supply, what else could it be?
at least they have underground supply there

They are dotted all over the Meadows and Springs. I wish I could find out what they were called, can't find any pics on the net of them either, once I know its name I'll have to find out if they're hazardous or not

I may know what u r refering to........they could possibly be the electric swtches/telephone mains and water meters for the utility people. They are quite common throughout Dubai. They often have doors that resemble lockers. They are 100% safe unless u were to take a bite out of one of the cables!:crazy2:

Nothing to worry about if thats what they are.

-Face81
:jippo:

ONLY if ur living directly underneath them. Driving by has no affect, but prolonged exposure UNDER overhead cables can cause serious damage.

-Face81
:jippo:

thats still just a theroy correct ?

no, it would really cause some serious trouble when you live right next to it for a year or more.

ok well thats not good

i would like to know if underground high voltage power supply is healthier for people living at close range
at least these pins would be demolished

Well i know only small ammount of detail about this issue
Maybe the density of the ground would help
but as i said i dont know

DEWA and DM will be removing the HV lines that run along AL Rabat road that goes past Dubai Festival city as the roads are being widened to cater for the DFC traffic

good to know they remove it at least there

thats still just a theroy correct ?

Actually, scientists are divided over whether power lines do have an effect on people, causing things like cancer.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/emf.html

It's really up to you to decide what you think. Personally, I think they MUST have an effect on people

ditto

LOL......Thanks (or Shukran) I guess! I am an Electrical Engineer after all! hehehehe

-Face81
:jippo:

LOL

Me too. Just that I never had chance to practice it. However I don't think that 5 years of University went in vain.

There is no chance the lines will be moved from where they are anytime soon. The problem is not with the lines, rather with people wanting to build near them.

well the lines predate the development so tough cookies

i don't think they're dangerous. al maha desert resort has the same, but surrounded with palm leaves. this is water, electricity supply, what else could it be?
at least they have underground supply there

I've found out what they are. They're transformers, you see them in a lot of residential areas in Dubai. They do seem to be dangerous. When running, they produce an electromagnetic field that affects body cells and leads to cancer, among other things

http://www.grn.es/electropolucio/omega162.htm

Some excerpts from the article...

He learned about a leukemia patient who was diagnosed when he was 18 years old and died at the age of 25. Two transformers were within 50 feet of his house. His father was later diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 52.

There's loads more, just do a search on transformers and cancer.

Scary stuff really

so will you move then? ;)
i mean that's not good and it looks crappy all over emirates living

:lol: juiced, today there is an article about it


Emirates Hills electricity substation live
Nakheel residents will soon be enjoying the benefits of DEWA's Emirates Hills 132/11 kV electricity substation. Installed and commissioned by ETA Group's Power Projects Division (ETA PPD), the AED55 million project will bring electricity to a swathe of new real estate being built adjacent to Interchange 5 on the Sheikh Zayed Road.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.ameinfo.com/images/news/4/9544-eta.jpg
ETA PPD substation at the Emirates Hills.

ETA PPD built and commissioned the station to hand over the project to DEWA. ETA subsidiary Gulf District Cooling will also provide the area with air conditioning from an adjacent site.


not so sure they'll really enjoy it ;)

That thing is HUGE!! I'm gonna try and find out where it is exactly. Sheesh, awful urban planning.......

Actually, it might not necesarily be within Emaar's Emirates Hills area. For some reason, AMEinfo (the site you got this news from) refers to this whole area (Hills, Jumeirah Islands, J Village, JLT) as Emirates Hills. Dunno why, and plus I don't think EMAAR would want AL Nakheel to benefit from a substation built on EMAAR land! :hahaha:

I was in & around the Marina area in June this year. One of the Real Estate guys confidently assured me the Power Station & associated pylons were only temporary, plans had been made to move this infrastructure elsewhere in the near future - I wonder how many other people have been influenced by this 'sales pitch' talk from the property developers & there sales people?

temporary? i hope so
it's just what they understand by temporary? 5 years? or 10?
how will they change it? to put all this stuff totally underground would be double work, they could have done this in the beginning!

They are removing power lines and dismatling the pylons in one of the 2 parallel lines that pass between the new Nakheel overfly bridge and the Gardens Shopping mall.

Let see what it will be next.

really? if yes this is great news
somehting has to happen with these, i mean they call it the new dubai or the heart of dubai
and i don't want to see power lines downtown

thanks for the update

Altind, how did you find out about this? Did you hear about it from someone or did you see them do this?

Thanks for the info :)

I saw them myself.

While driving yesterday toward Jebel Ali I noticed one pylon dismantled in 2 - 3 sections at the right side of the road and I checked on the other side and noticed there a pylon standing but without power lines on it.

Let's hope this doesn't mean the oposite, that they are actually adding another parallel power line.

that's what i first thought too
i could mean the opposite
let's pray it won't be!!

I checked today again and the pylon at the right side of the road was assembled and standing tall now, so "false alarm" guys.

A new power line is being added ... :bash:

:rant:
this is so stupid
will this be their latest project then? electricty city????
:ohno:
someone needs to wake them up please, sue them or whatever, just do something to stop it !!!!!

I'm a bit confused though - are those lines gonna run through Jumeirah Village???? Coz you see some power lines going from the power plant all the way into the desert near Emirates Road, and they seem to be running parallel to Jumeirah Islands, so I guess they will either be within or very close to the Village?

i hope these are just close
but it wouldn't surprise me

some great news
the jebel ali power network will be removed completely to another place!!!

yeeehaa!

whered you hear about this?? I knew they had to do something about these lines, they cant spend billions of dollars on the new dubai and have these lines ruin it all !

from a friend of our family who has some connections

nice Im liking it :D

YEPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE hey dubai lover where are our east coast and mosandam tour photos please !! :)