WASTEWATER REUSE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN-

PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES D. Fatta, I. Arslan Alaton, C. Gokcay, I. Skoula, A. Papadopoulos

and M. Loizidou

EWRA Symposium, September 2004

The Problem

• The Mediterranean countries are characterized by a severe water imbalance, mainly in the summer months, especially those located in the North Africa and Middle East region. – due mainly to the relatively and

uneven distribution of precipitation, high temperatures, increased demands for irrigation water and the impacts of tourism.

• In many situations in various countries wastewater is simply too valuable to waste!

• Total population, (Med countries) - 427 million (yr 2000). – It was 285 million in 1970, presenting an increase of

142 million, or 50%, in thirty years.

• ….Population at 523.5 million by 2025, which demonstrates a certain decrease in the population growth rate with a little under 97 million (or 22.5% increase) additional inhabitants in 25 years.

• Presently the average rate of urbanization is at 64.3%, while it is expected to reach 72.4% by 2025. – This rise is mostly due to the urban growth in the

southern and eastern countries.

• In absolute terms the urban population of all Mediterranean countries - 274.5 million in 2000 - will reach 379 million by 2025.

The Population dynamic is the main factor that:

– influences the most basic needs

• determining the consumption of all sorts of resources

• provoking the most direct environmental pressures.

Water Scarcity / Initiatives

• The Mediterranean Water Chapter (Rome in 1992) new resources of water

• Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference (Turin) – integrating water resources management

into sustainable development policies• participation of the civil society, water users,

organizations at local, regional and national level

– mobilization of non-conventional water resources

The Role of Wastewater

To alleviate water shortages serious consideration must be given to wastewater

reclamation and reuse

Treatment of wastewater provides an effluent of sufficient quality that it should

be put to beneficial use and not be wasted

The Positive Effects of Wastewater Irrigation

• It conserves water

• It is a low-cost method for sanitary disposal of municipal wastewater

• It reduces pollution of rivers, canals and other surface water resources

• It conserves nutrients, reducing the need for artificial fertilizer

• It increases crop yields

• It provides a reliable water supply to farmer

Existing Wastewater / Reuse in the Med Countries

1. Cyprus

• UWTPs, 20 MCM/yr: – 25 (big cities some municipalities and rural communities)– 175 located in hotels, military bases and hospitals

• Nowadays, Cyprus promotes the construction of new sewerage networks and WWTP, as well as extensions at the already working systems, with reference to achieving harmonisation with European Directive 91/271/EC – according to which every area with over 2000

residents, must have its own WTP. – Currently the needs of 45% of the urban population

and 12% of rural population are covered.

• Recycled domestic water is presently used for the watering of football fields, parks, hotel gardens, etc. (1.5 MCM/yr) and for the irrigation of permanent crops in particular (3.5 MCM/yr).

• It is estimated that by the year 2012 an amount of ~30 MCM/yr of treated sewage effluent will be available for agriculture and landscape irrigation.

• No environmental impacts have been observed by the reuse of wastewater due to the fact that very strict standards have been set.

1. Cyprus

2. Jordan

• Currently in Jordan, there are 21 UWTPs (79 MCM/yr, Reference yr 2003)

• These treatment plants are located in big cities and they actually serve big areas surrounding these cities – Al Samra plant, (Amman, Greater Amman)

• However, Jordan is currently planning to establish several new treatment plants that will serve the rest of the areas which can be classified as communities.

2. Jordan

• It is estimated that about 63% of the total population of Jordan has access to sewage collection and treatment systems.

• All of the effluents of the existing treatments plants in Jordan are either directly used for irrigation or are stored first in reservoirs/dams and are used for irrigation at a later stage.

• There is no non-sustainable disposal method for the effluent in Jordan. – it is considered that the use of effluent for irrigation is

sustainable since it complies with the national standards for effluent reuse

3. Morocco• UWTPs: 49 (from which only 4 are located in cities where

the population exceeds 100.000 inhabitants: Agadir, Beni Mellal, Khouribga and Nador).

• The number of the plants operating in communities or rural centres is 23.

• Nowadays, approximately 31 plants are in function, serving 900 000 inhabitants, out of a total of 13.4 millions.

• Wastewater in some plants undergoes only secondary treatment and hence treated wastewater does not comply with the standards for wastewater reuse in agriculture

3. Morocco

• The annual volume of urban wastewater has increased from 48 MCM in 1960 to 500 MCM in 1999. – It is estimated that this amount will reach 900 MCM in

2020. • this significant increase is due to population growth,

which is estimated at 5% per year.

• Only 8% of the quantity produced is treated

• Approximately 60% is discharged in the sea. – the rest is either discharged in the surface waters or

reused for the irrigation of 7000 ha.

4. Turkey

• Αll of the 81 provinces have UWTPs (total number: 129)

• 28 city plants are located in 12 of the Greater Metropolitan cities. – e.g., Istanbul Greater Metropolitan City, being

the most crowded city of the country, has 13 urban wastewater treatment plants followed by 3 plants in the highly industrialized province Kocaeli.

4. Turkey

• Estimations concerning the population served by treatment plants fluctuate between 35-45%.

• Treated municipal effluent is mainly discharged into flowing receiving water bodies like rivers, creeks, and coastal and deep sea environment.

• No quantitative data is available concerning the wastewater reuse

Evaluation of Existing Status

• Most Mediterranean countries have no well established and effective wastewater treatment plants– In several cases the wastewater is not

properly treated due to the fact that the construction cost of efficient treatment systems is very high (especially for small and medium size communities).

• An increasing trend in wastewater treatment plant construction and planning is evident in almost all the countries of the Mediterranean basin.

Evaluation of Existing Status

• There are no wastewater reuse standards nor criteria developed in a way that will clearly take into account the local conditions while reasonably safeguarding the population

• There is a lack of information among the actors involved (operators, farmers, general public, local authorities, etc).

Cattle drinking from contaminated waters

Wastewater discharge area

The potential negative effects of uncontrolled wastewater irrigation

Health risks for irrigators and communities with prolonged contact with untreated wastewater and consumers of vegetables irrigated with wastewater

Contamination of groundwater (nitrates)

Build-up of chemical pollutants in the soil (heavy metals)

Creation of habitats for disease vectors

Excessive growth of algae and vegetation in canals carrying wastewater

The main problems that have to be dealt with are:

• The non-regulated use of treated water in agriculture

• The non-existing reuse criteria related to hygiene, public health and quality control

• The non-existing reuse criteria related to irrigation techniques, degree of wastewater treatment, and choice of areas and types of crops to be irrigated

• The lack of efficient control and monitoring of urban wastewater treatment plants

• The lack of trained personnel both in the competent authorities and the treatment plants

• The low level of awareness of the farmers and the public at large

The MEDAWARE Project

• MEDA• EUROPEAN COMMISSION

– EURO-MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERSHIP

• Development of Tools and Guidelines for the Promotion of the Sustainable Urban Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in the Agricultural Production in the Mediterranean Countries

• Greece (National Technical University of Athens and Prospect Systems)

• Cyprus (Agriculture Research Institute)

• Jordan (Jordan University of Sciences and Technology)

• Lebanon (American University of Beirut)

• Morocco (Chouaib Doukkali University)

• Palestinian Authority (Ministry of Environmental Affairs)

• Turkey (Istanbul Technical University and Middle East Technical University)

• Spain (CARTIF Technology Center)

Strategy Analysis T ree

S u s ta in ab le was tewatertrea tm en t - p rod u c tion

of h ig h q u a lity waterab le to b e reu sed

In tern a tion a l C on feren ces -D iscu ss ion F oru m

D eve lop m en t o ftrea tm en t tech n o lo

g ies ta ilo red toloca l n eed s

Id en tifica tion o f exis tin gwas tewater trea tm en t

m eth od s

D eve lop m en t o fm eth od s & too ls

fo r id en tifyin gop tim u m sch em es

D eve lop m en t o fm eth od s & too ls

fo r th e con tro l/m on ito ro f trea tm en t p lan ts

D eve lop m en t o fsp ec ifica tion s fo r

was tewater u tiliza tionin ag ricu ltu re

Id en tifica tion o f exis tin greu se / irrig a tion p rac tices

D eve lop m en t o fsp ec ifica tion s fo r

water s to rag econ d ition s

Id en tifica tion o freu se lim ita tion s

(e .g . econ om ic , lan dissu es )

D eterm in ation o f loca ln eed s an d con s tra in ts -sp ec ia l ch arac te ris tics

E xam in a tion o fb es t p rac tices

on com b in ed trea tm en t &reu se sys tem s

D eterm in ation o f exis tin gp o lic ies re la ted to

water & was tewaterm an ag em en t

D eterm in ation o f soc io-econ om ic & leg is la tivein s tru m en ts n eed ed fo r

su s ta in ab le m an ag em en t

Tra in in g worksh op sfo r a ll ac tors in vo lved

(au th orit ies , op era to rs ,fa rm ers )

P rod u c tion o f in fo rm ation a l /ed u cation a l b roch u res

an d lea fle ts

S afe an d su s ta in ab lereu se o f e fflu en t

in ag ricu ltu re

P rom otion o f trea tedwas tewater reu se in

ag ricu ltu re

A va ilab ility o f watersa fe fo r reu sein ag ricu ltu re

Education/Awareness Strategy

Best Practices & Effective Policies

Promotion Strategy

Sustainable & Controlled Treatment Strategy

Sustainable Wastewater

Reuse Strategy

The MEDAWARE Methodology

1. Sustainable and Controlled Treatment Strategy:

– Technical support for authorities for the implementation of the appropriate technologies for treatment, (evaluation of the existing situation, development of specifications for urban wastewater treatment technologies and systems tailored to local needs)

– Technical support for authorities for the control and monitoring of the wastewater treatment plants (including guidelines, methodologies and tools: database for the monitoring and reporting)

The MEDAWARE Methodology

2. Sustainable Wastewater Reuse Strategy:

– Technical support of authorities for the sustainable utilization of treated wastewater in the agricultural production and for the maximum utilization in a safe way of the treated effluents, development of guidelines for the safe reuse (for operators and farmers), etc.

The MEDAWARE Methodology

3. Best Practices and Effective Policies Promotion Strategy:

– Acquisition of knowledge and experience of scientifically sound and effective practices on urban wastewater treatment and reuse implemented in countries facing the similar problems and having similar characteristics

– Examination of effective socio-economic and legislative instruments applied elsewhere and promotion of success stories

The MEDAWARE Methodology

4. Education/Awareness Strategy:

– Training/Educating support of all actors involved in the wastewater treatment and reuse cycle (including training workshops in each country, a discussion forum, conference, a guiding support software tool, brochures, leaflets, etc)

Conclusions

The highest priority in the wastewater management sector has to be given to setting up an effective

wastewater management system which will include:

– Maximization of collection of wastewater– Upgrading the existing wastewater collection systems– Rehabilitation or upgrading of existing wastewater

treatment plants or the construction of new treatment plants

– Establishment of proper standards for influent and effluent wastewater quality

– Education of the farmers