Sustainability of a Low-Cost Decentralized Treatment System for Wastewater Reuse: Resident Perception-Based Evaluation for Arid Regions

Abstract

Small communities and most rural settlements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) store domestic wastewater in residential septic tanks and transport it to the nearest centralized wastewater treatment plant. Without a sanitary sewerage system, the residents encounter various socioeconomic and environmental challenges related to sewage collection vehicles, the production of objectionable gases, and leaking septic tanks. The present study developed a resident perception-based methodology to appraise the sustainability of a low-cost ceramic filter bioreactor-type decentralized wastewater treatment system (DWWTS) for a small community of 1300 residents (160 households) in Qassim (KSA). In addition to six demographic factors, nine indicators assessed residents’ perceptions about existing and proposed wastewater management systems. A hierarchical-based system of sub-indices evaluated the three dimensions of sustainability using four environmental, nine social, and three economic indicators. The indicators translated into dichotomous questions posed to 34 respondents in the study area. The statistical analysis assessed the association of responses with the willingness to accept (WTA) the proposed DWWTS. A subjective rating scheme translated the responses into performance scores, and a fuzzy-based method aggregated the scores into sub- and top-level indices. The top of the hierarchy showed a close agreement between the resident’s perception and DWWTS’ sustainability. The study found that residents’ knowledge about environment and resource conservation resulted in a moderately high willingness to reuse treated effluent and WTA the decentralized system. The study also showed that the economic viability of a DWWTS remained at a moderate performance level due to a low monthly waste disposal cost. The study’s findings present a high potential for sustainable community-maintained DWWTS initially supported by the government. The proposed approach facilitates decision-makers working in ministries concerning water resources, environmental protection, and agricultural production in evaluating the sustainability of DWWTS for small communities in arid regions.

Investigation of Used Water Sediments from Ceramic Tile Fabrication

“…The FW sample is collected into the recirculation tank, where the FWS particles can become a sediment on the bottom of the tank, and the water is able to be recirculated in the technological process. This step is appropriate and in accordance with the concept of a circular economy [30]; moreover, it certainly reduces the neutralization costs and increases the efficiency of ceramic tiles production facilities regarding used water [31].…”

A strategic approach to sustainable wastewater management and reuse in Saudi Arabia

“…A long stretch of Wadi Rumah adds to landscape and agricultural benefits while traversing the Qassim Province. The residents of smaller towns and some villages transport the domestic sewage, stored in septic tanks in their houses, to the nearest centralized STPs [47]. The four STPs in the present study are of primary significance regarding regional wastewater management.…”

Microstructural Investigations Regarding Sustainable Recycling of Ceramic Slurry Collected from Industrial Waste Waters

“…The only way to keep the actual environmental equilibrium is by developing sustainable technologies and sustainable materials. This implies industrial waste mitigation by their reuse as sustainable materials [7,8] or for the production of derived sub-products [9,10].…”