The Site is a permanent water body fed by wastewater from five settlements and surrounded by sand dunes. It provides an important refuge for wintering and migratory waterbirds crossing the desert on the Eurasian-African routes. Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus and black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus breed here; Eurasian wigeon, ruddy shelduck, Eurasian coot, glossy ibis, pied avocet, grey heron and Kentish plover are also found. Pollution from wastewater is a concern for the future, and a study is being undertaken to look into the possibility of installing a purification plant.