Identification and removal of bottlenecks for extended use of wastewater for irrigation or for other purposes

Reduction of water stress and water scarcity

Description

The European Investment Bank on the publication:

The extended reuse of reclaimed (treated) wastewater could contribute considerably to the reduction of ‘water stress’ and ‘water scarcity’ in arid and semi-arid countries as part of an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach focusing on wastewater reuse for irrigation and other purposes.

In the target countries, agriculture is by far the main water consumer, accounting for about 80% of the total water supply in Tunisia and up to 90% in Syria. In terms of quantity, the greatest potential for wastewater reuse is through using properly treated wastewater for irrigation purposes, as substitute for conventional ground and surface water sources.

The European Investment Bank – through the FEMIP Trust Fund (Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership)- finances a comparative study to examine the current reuse of wastewater in the region. It identifies bottlenecks preventing a more extensive use and analyse how these bottlenecks can be removed or reduced.

The study focuses on five of the nine FEMIP partner MEDA countries: Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia.

AHT GROUP AG has been contracted for implementing this study and has started its activities on the 1st of November 2008 for a duration of eight months.

The study assesses factors that contribute to a conducive environment for reuse and identify significant existing and planned wastewater reuse schemes with a realistic potential for implementation within the next five years. The study will also identify and contact key persons, promoters of already existing schemes and other relevant stakeholders in the target countries.

The following outputs shall be achieved:

  • A technical paper presenting the latest technologies as well as legal, institutional, economic and public opinion issues;
  • Country reports describing the present situation, potentials and planned schemes;
  • Project briefs for identified potential schemes;
  • An internet platform for communication and dissemination of results and contributions;
  • A network for the exchange of experiences among the different resource persons from the target countries; and
  • Organization of a final workshop with selected resource persons.

The AHT Group AG has commissioned NSCE to organize filed visits, consultation meetings and dissemination events to be attended by representatives form the five countries in Alexandria in 2009.

Services

  • Organize field visits and consultation meetings in three governorates with governmental officials, NGOs, local community and experts, discussing the identification mission findings and recommendations for Egypt.
  • Organize dissemination workshop in Alexandria, discussing identification missions’ findings and recommendations for the five countries.
  • Other Activities including facilitation, organization of materials, accommodation, travel logistics, local visits etc.