Reuse of Reclaimed Water in Jordan

By

Eng. Ziad Darwish Taqash

Ministry of Water and Irrigation

September 2011

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

� Jordan is an arid to semi arid country

� An area of about 90.000 km2.

� A population of 6 million.. Annual growth

rate of about 2.2 %

�High flow of refugees from surrounding

countries adds burden to water supply

system due to instability in the region .

� About 73% of the population lives in

urban areas concentrated in the northern

and middle parts of Jordan .

JORDAN IN FACTS AND FIGURES

Water Resources in Jordan

� The average annual renewable fresh water resources:

(780) MCM

275 MCM is Ground Water

505 MCM is usable Surface Water

�Other sources of water are Non-conventional waterresources:

Nonrenewable water = 140 MCM

Treated WW = 100 MCM

About 95 % of treated effluent in Jordan is currently reused in

agriculture.

Almost 100% will be reused

Prevailing Water Sector ManagementConstraints and challenges

• Per capita availability of water resources

is declining rapidly, from 3600 m3/Cap in 1946 to

145 m3 in 2009.

• Competing sectoral demands on scarce water

resources

• Demand centers are distant from water sources

• Limited financial capacities

• Groundwater over-abstraction

Water Supply & Demand

2022202020152010

Actual

(2006)Year

450437407380290Domestic Needs (MCM)

1251201007746Industry & Remote Areas

98098310401072589Agriculture including TWW

15551540154715291512Total Needs (MCM)

1871**12961233*1150925Wًater Supply (MCM)

+316-244-314-379-587Deficit (MCM)

* DISI starts at 2013* DISI starts at 2013 ** Red ** Red –– Dead starts at 2022Dead starts at 2022

Wastewater shall not be managed as “waste”.

It shall be collected and treated to standards

that allow its reuse in unrestricted agriculture

and other non-domestic purposes, including

groundwater recharge.

Jordan’s Water Strategy of theMinistry of Water and Irrigation

Wastewater use in Jordan Wastewater use in Jordan (2010)(2010)

Wastewater Treatment Plants 23Total effluent (MCM) 102Total effluent of As Samra Treatment Plant (MCM) 79

Restricted Agriculture inside Treatment Plant (ha) 1438Restricted Agriculture outside Treatment Plant (ha) 1055Unrestricted Agriculture in Jordan Valley (ha) 15252

Institutional and Legal Issues

• In 1997, the MWI formulated a national Water Strategy, which was the foundation to four subsequent water policies:

• The Water Utility Policy

• The Groundwater Management Policy

• The Irrigation Water Policy

• The Wastewater Management Policy

• Recently, the water demand management policy was issued.

• The policies emphasize the need to study the environmental feasibility of proposed water projects.

• The policies also focus on public awareness of water resource protection and conservation.

• Protection of surface and groundwater

• Efficient management of urban water and all environmental and irrigation aspects relevant to the water sector.

• Development of appropriate institutional capacity building and legislative framework for water management.

• Efficient and sustainable management of utilities by further involvement of the private sector.

• Fostering of regional cooperation and donor coordination.

• Introduction of socially acceptable cost recovery tariffs for all types of water use depending on the quality and quantity of water consumed.

Policy guidelines

Reclaimed Water Use in the Jordan Valley

Farmers in the Jordan Valley use reclaimed

water for irrigation in accordance with

environmental and public health regulations.

Jordan Valley AreaJordan Valley Area

North JVNorth JV

Middle & South JVMiddle & South JV

Southern Southern GhorsGhors

North JV ( 9000 ha )

Groundwater Wadi Arab DamYarmouK River

King Ab-dullah Canal

Irrigation Networks

Citrus, Vegetables

Kafrien Dam Mixing

30% TWW

70% Rain Water

JV Mixing Point

Middle & South JV(13370 ha)

Wadi Seir WWTP

Irrigation Networks

Date palm, Vegetables

KTD

50% TWW

50% Rain Water

As Samra WWTP

15252 ha

Impacts of irrigation with reclaimed water

crops

soils

groundwater

human health

– salts

– nutrients

– heavy metals

– microbiologicalcontaminants

State Crop Monitoring system for fresh

fruit and vegetables� Collaboration between JVA, JFDA, MoA.

� Safety Control Guideline for fresh fruit and

vegetables

� Crop quality assurance system The main

purpose in establishing the steps towards a Crop

Quality Assurance System.

� Campaign 2009/2010 shows very low risks

of microbial, contaminated crops no

cases found.

� High Nitrate values in leafy crops, due to

over fertigation.

� Monitoring campaign is going on (JFDA)

Soil Monitoring

Parameters Average

(0 - 60cm)

1999 2007

Parameters Average

(0 - 60cm)

1985 2007

EC (dS/m) 6.7 4.66 Fe - DTPA 3.07 11.2

pH 7.88 7.92 Zn - DTPA 1.71 5.8

CaCO3 ( % ) 37.5 33.6 Cd - DTPA 0.04 0.07

CEC (meq/100g) 10.8 13 Co - DTPA 0.13 0.26

Gypsum 2.1 2.8 O.M (%) 1.02 1.9

B – Hot water 2.06 2.0 Mn - DTPA 7.98 16

SAR 9.7 4.0 Available k

(ppm)

583 696

Texture Medium P – Olsen

(ppm)

40.8 210

Groundwater Monitoring

• Possible impact on groundwater where RW is used for irrigation

• Long-term risk for agricultural land use

Services to farmers

• RW Guidelines

• Monthly information sheet.

• Soil and water analysis (labs).

• Training about fertigation(nutrients in reclaimed water)

� Reclaimed Water will become the main source for irrigation.

� Risk monitoring - cross sector exchange information and link data of all involved parties.

� Implementation and enforcement of monitoring programs

� Consider WHO Guidelines on reuse.

� Implement a project to link effluent from Irbid RW to irrigation network in north Jordan Valley (JV).

� Transfer knowledge and experience of JV to other areas in Jordan.

Outlook

Strategic Planning for the Water sector

Action Plan consists of 6 major items namely:

1. Institutional and Legal Issues.

2. Private Sector Participation.

3. Agricultural Water Use.

4. Cost Recovery.

5. Information Systems.

6. Adaptation of International Conventions

• Enhance Stakeholders’ participation

• Enhance use of recycled water for industries.

• Adjust water tariff to ensure recovery of O&M Costs

• Encourage Irrigation Advisory Services

• Continued development of Centralised Water Information

Systems including the use of advanced technologies.

IN THE SHORT TERM

The Way Forward

• Full development of SW & GW (Economic feasibility, social

and environmental considerations)

• Continuous Development of marginal water.

• Gradual reduction of renewable GW over-abstraction (By 2020)

• Continued Development of HR & Public Awareness

• Achieve Highest Possible efficiency (Conveyance, distribution,

application and use, including Water & WW systems performance)

• WW management and reuse to achieve public health standards

IN THE LONG TERM

The Way Forward

• Expansion of Private Sector Role

• Recovery of O&M cost to become a standard practice.

• Periodical review of institutional arrangements & restructuring to match changing needs

The Way Forward

IN THE LONG TERM

• Regular update of legislation whenever necessary

• Regional Cooperation

• Improve Industrial waste water monitoring

Thank you&

Welcome to Jordan