Opportunities and Challenges for Treated Wastewater Reuse in the West Bank, Tunisia, and Qatar

Abstract

Abstract. Harsh environment, severe aridity, and climate change create chronic water shortages in the Middle East. Technical challenges, socio-economic factors, and competing uses of water have escalated the difficulties in water planning at national and institutional levels. This research identifies opportunities and challenges associated with wastewater treatment systems and the potential for wastewater reuse in the West Bank, Tunisia, and Qatar through the following objectives: (1) identify the factors associated with successful and unsuccessful reuse schemes, (2) compare treated wastewater quality with end use application of treated wastewater, and (3) identify the governance and social challenges preventing the use of treated wastewater, specifically in agricultural applications. Water quality analyses and consultations with farmers, local stakeholders, and water and agriculture experts were conducted. Opportunities and challenges for treated wastewater reuse in agriculture are identified as the proximity of the treatment facility to agricultural areas, water quality, and motivation of farmers. With proper maintenance and appropriate monitoring, the modest (natural) treatment facilities in the West Bank and secondary treatment technologies in Tunisia are capable of producing effluent safe for use in production of certain agricultural products; however, in Qatar, despite massive investments in producing high-quality treated wastewater using advanced treatment technologies, there is little demand. Water policies, laws and acts, and action plans are urgently needed to be coupled and integrated for implementation. Keywords: Arid lands, Food security, MENA, Wastewater treatment, Water reuse.

The Future of Water for Food

“…While reuse is important, the long-term impact on the ecosystem in which the soil is exposed to reused irrigation water must also be considered. A project conducted in Tunisia focused on a wastewater treatment plan for water, energy, and food (WEF) (Dare et al, 2017). Though very complex due to the social issues regarding the use of wastewater on soil for food and the perception that wastewater is unsafe, the exercise addressed the feasibility at all these dimensions.…”

Principais dispositivos legais e institucionais disponíveis no Brasil para reúso não potável de águas cinzas

“…Diante desse cenário, ainda que seja um tipo de tratamento caro, a principal fonte de abastecimento de água do Catar é a dessalinização (cerca 99% da água consumida no país). O reúso de água não é incentivado por meio de políticas públicas, inclusive não sendo bem visto pela população catariana (Dare et al, 2017;. O Catar possui uma expressiva infraestrutura de saneamento básico, em que o tratamento e o abastecimento de água potável são universais, em Doha, maior centro populacional, 95% das edificações estão conectadas à rede de tratamento, entretanto, apenas 27% desses efluentes tratados são destinados ao reúso.…”

“…O Catar possui uma expressiva infraestrutura de saneamento básico, em que o tratamento e o abastecimento de água potável são universais, em Doha, maior centro populacional, 95% das edificações estão conectadas à rede de tratamento, entretanto, apenas 27% desses efluentes tratados são destinados ao reúso. Com relação à água cinza, cerca de 67% dos efluentes tratados são distribuídos para a capital do país, sendo utilizada para irrigação de paisagens, para irrigação de culturas forrageiras, para recarga subterrânea e despejo no lago Abu-Nakhla (Dare et al, 2017;Manawi et al, 2017). Ainda assim, o Catar não possui leis que apoiem explicitamente o reúso de água cinza.…”

Current Research in Land, Water, and Agroecosystems: ASABE Journals 2017 Year in Review

“…Limitations in local and regional water availability result from factors including overdevelopment, harsh environments, severe aridity, saline water encroachment, technological limitations, and climate variability and change. A study of opportunities and challenges facing treated wastewater reuse found that current natural treatment facilities in the West Bank and secondary treatment technologies in Tunisia could support safe agricultural reuse, but insufficient demand limited utilization of the massive investment in producing high-quality treated wastewaters in Qatar (Dare et al, 2017).…”