Network of demonstration activities for sustainable integrated wastewater treatment and reuse in the Mediterranean

Project description

Title: Network of demonstration activities for sustainable integrated wastewater treatment and reuse in the Mediterranean
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU)
Country: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Water and Irrigation Jordan, Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation Egypt, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Tunisia, State Secretary for Water and Environment Morocco
Overall term: 2012 to 2014

Context

Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia are among the world's most water-poor countries. These countries are also feeling the effects of climate change, regional migration and the challenges of high population growth. Their renewable water resources are currently being overexploited, which is jeopardising sustainable water supply for domestic, industrial and agricultural users. Reusing treated wastewater could offer an alternative to overexploiting the existing water resources. However, this practice is not very widespread despite its strong potential in the region. Decision-makers do not possess the skills they need and access to suitable wastewater treatment technologies is inadequate, making it hard to reuse wastewater.

Objective

Non-conventional water resources are used more in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. These countries' technical and administrative skills are strengthened with a view to sustainable and integrated water strategies.

Approach

The project is conducting pilot activities to identify appropriate methods of treating and reusing treated wastewater in the four project countries of Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. These activities are focusing on reusing municipal wastewater for irrigation purposes. The project is demonstrating innovative strategies and technologies that can be used at different stages of wastewater treatment.

Morocco: to separate wastewater at its source; to introduce decentralised wastewater treatment methods that promote reuse; to reuse processed wastewater effectively for energy and agricultural production; to improve rainwater harvesting

Jordan: to use alternative technologies in decentralised wastewater treatment facilities for public buildings in semi-urban areas; to promote reuse of processed wastewater to irrigate green spaces and restore the environment

Tunisia: to control the quality of processed wastewater in storage and during transfer to end users including introducing contracts between farmers and (waste)water providers to promote water quality

Egypt: to provide decentralised wastewater treatment and promote reuse of processed wastewater in agriculture in rural areas

The project supports knowledge exchanges, capacity building and increasing expertise at regional level. This includes establishing a common framework for evaluating results, holding regional and local training sessions, organising regional conferences and compiling a catalogue of lessons learned.

To implement these projects, the programme is cooperating with Al Balqa Applied University (Jordan), the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (Jordan), the National Research Centre (Egypt), the Office National de l'Assainissement (Tunisia), the Agence du Bassin Hydraulique du Sous-Massa et Draa (Morocco), Adelphi Research (Germany) and the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development (Italy).