WASTEWATER REUSE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES

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• 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
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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!

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• 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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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1. Cyprus

• 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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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4. Turkey

• ?ll 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.

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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

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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.

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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).

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Cattle drinking from contaminated waters
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Wastewater discharge area
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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

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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

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The MEDAWARE Project

• 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)

• 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

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The MEDAWARE Methodology

• 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)

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The MEDAWARE Methodology

• 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.

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The MEDAWARE Methodology

• 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

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The MEDAWARE Methodology

• 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)

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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