INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices

for wastewater treatment and re-use

in the Mediterranean region

Obstacles to enhance groundwater aquifer by reclaimed water using artificial recharge as a reuse
option in West Bank / Palestine

Mediterranean Workshop on New Technologies of Recycling non Conventional Water in Protected

Cultivation Opportunities and New Challenges for Arid and Semi - Arid Areas

Organized by
Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Hassan II
And European Union Cycler - Support and INNOVAMED Projects
Agadir, Morocco

Subhi Samhan
Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)
29.04. 2008
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Groubwater protection framework

in Palestine
POLICY
Groundwater development, planning and
management both quantity and quality.

IMPLEMENTATI
RESEARCH ON
• Groundwater Regulations
resources Remedial measures
assessment (land use
• Groundwater restriction,
potentiality artificial
assessment recharge,
• Groundwater WWTPs)
Protection zones
vulnerability
Public awareness
assessment
and human
• Pollution load resources
assessment development
• Pollution risk Monitoring
assessment 2
• Monitoring
West Bank governorates.
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Demography:
• The population of West Bank is about 2.35 million (2004
senses) and it’s area about 5615Km2.
• Annual Population growth is 3.5%.
• 30 communities with population > 20,000.
• 70 communities with population <10,000>5000.
• 463 communities with population <5000.

3
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Introduction:

• Wastewater generated estimate by 60-70 MCM/2006 in West Bank. Of this only about 36.5
MCM is collected by sewage network.

• In West Bank about 56 communities are connected to sewage network, whereas 513
communities use cesspits to dispose their sewage without any type of treatment.

• About 93% of the generated wastewater in the West Bank discharged untreated into the
environment and run in wadis.

• Settlement rate of consumption were 6-7 times for those living in the West Bank. they generate
about 35 Mcm/yr of untreated sewage which cause catastrophic effects on the Palestinian water
resources and environment.
• Solid waste production in West Bank estimated to be 0.4-1.2 kg\day household solid waste
produced in the West Bank is 1,728.2 tons. This volume is estimated to cover between 100-200
hectares. Their is lack of waste separation implies that hazardous and medical waste disposal is
also uncontrolled. Batteries, liquid wastes, and potential hazardous wastes are mixed in with solid
(household) wastes, sources for all ARIJ, 2007
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

• 123 type of pesticides used in the West Bank, 14 of these pesticides were internationally
suspended, cancelled or banned by WHO from usage and still use in agricultural activity, In West
Bank about 302 ton of pesticides, 30,000 ton of fertilizers and for soil disinfections Methyl
Bromide were used in the cultivated area (ARIJ, 1998).

• CAMP,2001 study revealed that the overall water total demand 629 is millions m3 (Mm3)/ yr,
where the overall supply for domestic and agriculture is only 170 (Mm3)/yr. This means that
there is a deficit of about 459 (Mm3) every year. This deficit led to continuous discharge from
groundwater this deteriorates groundwater quality.

• As a policy in water resources management, there is attitude to get other non conventional water
resources such as treated wastewater as artificial recharge of groundwater from both storm water
and treated wastewater.
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Requested for wastewater management and reuse In West Bank to work in:

• There is no routine monitoring for wastewater, neither at treatment plants, nor at the end-uses.

• There no insufficient data available on wastewater quality and quantity, the quality of existing
data is unclear and available sets are inconsistent.

• The agencies responsible for wastewater monitoring have insufficient capacity to fulfil their
tasks.

• The existing laboratories cannot perform relevant analyses for routine waste water samples.
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Interest in reuse has accelerated significantly in the Palestinian Territories for many
reasons:

• Depletion of groundwater resources.

• Production of large quantities of wastewater which makes its use for a viable and reuse
alternative options.

• The reuse is a safe disposal of wastewater which will reduce the environment and health risks.

• The treatment of wastewater to be used is cheaper than that needed for protection of the
Environment (UNEP, 2000).
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Palestinian practice of reuse of reclaimed water produced

Palestinian water Authority (PWA) considered the key regulator and guardian of water resources in
Palestine. A number of strategies are being developed by PWA on 2003 concerning the artificial
recharge usage; these strategies are:

• Co-operation must be established with different relevant bodies.

• Flexible reuse plans should be developed to be able to utilize treated wastewater and possible
mixing with rainfall, urban run off and storm water.

• Establish planning tools (regulations, standards, guidelines, etc) for reuse and recharge.

• Discharge to surface water may be considered as an interim action for infiltration, or if reuse are
not feasible.

• For better water quality and reuse efficiency, consider (1) mixing of treated effluent with
urban and surface runoff, (2) artificial recharge of groundwater with treated effluent
wherever possible and (3) establish surface storage for treated effluent with or without
harvested runoff.
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

To reuse in aquifer recharge

1. The factors that governing the infiltration capacity and the type, size of the infiltration basin
are:

• Infiltration capacity at the soil surface (the soil at the bottom of the infiltration basin),
• Hydraulic capacity of the soil profile and the geologic information below the bottom of the
infiltration basin,
• Property of the water to be infiltrated which may lead to pollution of groundwater,
• Clogging of the basin and that will affect the infiltration capacity of the basin.

2. Treated wastewater could usually infiltrate to groundwater with high risk to polluting the
aquifer. Therefore, several measures should be considered regarding the quality of the treated
wastewater and the type of the recharging system.

3. Recharging the aquifer by injection type system (wells/boreholes) is excluded because this
type of system is much more subjected to clogging and will not have a purifying effect on the
residual pollution in the treated water.
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Summary of urban runoff pollutants according to EPA, 1993

Category Parameters Possible Source Effects

Sediments Organic and inorganic: Total suspended solids Construction sites Turbidity
(TSS) Urban/agricultural runoff Habitat alteration
Turbidity Landfills Recreational and aesthetic loss
Dissolved solids Septic fields Contaminant transport
Navigation/hydrology
Bank erosion

Nutrients Nitrate Urban/agricultural runoff Surface waters

Nitrite Landfills Algal blooms
Ammonia Septic fields Ammonia toxicity
Organic nitrogen Atmospheric deposition Ground water
Phosphate Erosion nitrate toxicity
Total Phosphorus

Pathogens Total coliform Urban/agricultural runoff Ear/intestinal infections

Fecal coliform Septic systems Shellfish bed closure
Fecal streptococci Boat discharges Recreational/aesthetic
Viruses Domestic/wild animals Loss
E. Coli

Organic enrichment Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Urban/agricultural runoff Dissolved oxygen depletion
Chemical oxygen demand (COD) Landfills Odors
Total organic carbon (TOC) Septic systems Fish kills

Toxic pollutants Toxic trace metals Urban/agricultural runoff Bioaccumulation in food chain organisms and potential
Toxic organic Pesticides toxicity to humans and other organisms
Underground storage tanks
Hazardous waste sites
Landfills
Industrial discharges

Salts Sodium chloride Urban runoff Vehicular corrosion Contamination of drinking water
Snowmelt Harmful to salt- intolerant plants
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

For Urban Run off investigation Mimi and et, al, 2006 study the urban runoff in Ramallah area
their study revealed that Turbidity can be determined as physical parameters and related to Total
Solids (TS),Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) among the analysis
on the samples, as the turbidity depends directly on the time of the predominant rainfall
during the time of analysis.

1500,0
T u rb i d i t y (N T U )

1000,0

500,0

0,0
Industrial Commercial Resedential Rural
Land Use

Results for the Turbidity analysis

 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Result for Total Solids (TS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Biological
and Chemical as COD and BOD and compared to Palestinian guideline.
1600.0
1400.0
1200.0
TS S
1000.0
g/L

800.0
m

TS
600.0
400.0
TDS
200.0
0.0
I ndust r i al Commer ci al Resedent i al Rur al Pal est i ni an
gui del i nes
L an d Us e

250,0

200,0

150,0 BOD
mg/L

100,0
COD
50,0

0,0
Industrial Commercial Resedential Rural Palestinian
guidelines

Land Use
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Trace Metals and Nitrate and Phosphorous

1 4 ,0

1 2 ,0
Zn
1 0 ,0
g
.m/L

8 ,0
Pb
onc

6 ,0
C

4 ,0 Cr
2 ,0

0 ,0
Ind ust r ial C o mmer cial R esed ent ial R ur al Palest inian
g uid elines
La nd Us e

Nitrate
25.0
Phos phorous

20.0
Conc. mg/L

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
Indus trial Commerc ial Res edential Rural Pales tinian
guidelines
La nd Use
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

In West Bank there is no separation between the rain water runoff and sewerage system
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Gray wastewater stream discharged through Storm water and mixing wastewater that run in
open channels from Al-Fara Refuge Camp. wadis Al-Qilt, 2003.
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

For Water and wastewater discharge in Wadi Al-Qilt (June, Julay, Auguset, 2007) by PWA.
Anionic
Flow TDS NO3 NH4 Surfactant COD BOD DOC F.coli E. Coli
No (m3/d) pH (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) CFU/100ml CFU /100ml
1 4800 7,41 900 25 3,58 0,89 214 62 22,54 6000 3500
1 4500 7,65 795 21 8,25 1,12 180 46 19,55 8800 5500
1 4750 7,85 890 27 6,25 1,35 225 120 29,88 6800 4800
2 3450 7,78 1120 30 5,55 0,95 300 130 28,31 600x102 NM
2 3120 7,85 950 38 12,25 1,25 430 195 25,51 300x102 NM
2 3356 7,65 880 29 10,25 1,65 385 160 32,3 400x102 NM
3 730 8,85 1550 22 10,25 2,35 325 208 16,18 40x102 NM
3 895 8,23 1000 17 8,44 2,11 490 308 32,15 80x102 NM
4 785 7,23 880 75 8,25 2,11 195 75 18,19 60x102 2850
4 650 8,55 785 55 6,35 2,45 252 135 16,95 80x103 NM
5 1130 8,12 301 21 1,15 0,12 70 51 6,75 80 30
5 995 7,55 260 27 2,12 0,52 95 44 4,62 101 40
5 1120 7,66 195 16 0,95 0,23 65 29 9,23 75 20
6 2560 6,85 850 23 9,95 0,65 175 65 15,95 140x102 NM
6 2495 7,15 1220 35 12,35 1,15 205 85 14,93 640x103 NM
6 2400 7,95 750 29 11,23 1,98 95 52 19,55 840x103 NM
7 11452 7,06 550 39 0,52 1,15 82 35 8,95 40x102 1850
7 13895 7,55 640 28 1,12 1,35 100 40 11,25 84x103 NM
7 12585 8,1 480 26 0,89 0,95 65 38 10,58 29x102 1250
8 15485 8,15 520 31 0,11 0,18 62 15 4,55 980 350
8 14360 7,59 385 22 0,25 0,25 75 18 3,95 700 225
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Wastewater wadis survey and monitoring program done by CH2Mhill (1999):

pH ORP NH3- Anti Arse Bery Cd Ca Cr Cu Fe Pb Mg Hg Ni K Se Ag** Na Thalli Zn
mv N* moy nic llium ** * ** ** ** ** * ** ** * ** * um *
** ** ** **

Q1-1T 7.8 -34 131 148 28 86 31 8.2 102 157 3020 125 36 0.77 116 29.3 ND 48 33 13.6 79

Q1-1D ND 22 81 ND 2.4 ND 154 111 ND 29 0.77 87 24.5 ND 45 80 10.9 0.2

QA-1T 7.8 -38.1 89 ND 63.1 99.5 20 3.1 ND 208 648 ND 89 0.76 121 33.4 17.1 70 386 27.4 0.2

QA-1D ND 30.8 95.8 20 3.1 ND 186 137 ND 32 0.76 113 30.4 12.8 70 260 20.5 0.1

QA-2 7.8 -39.4 127

QA-3 8.6 -81.4 46.3

QA-61 53.8 ND ND ND ND 76 3.3 7.9 726 6.7 33 0.58 6 35.3 ND 0.86 167 ND 0.8

MQ-1T 7.6 -26.4 184 15 ND 23.7 40 ND ND 1311 128 35 1.01 ND 37 14.6 ND 145 77.9 0.5

MQ-1D 129 13 ND 15.5 35 ND ND 115 ND 36 0.8 ND 38 ND 13 133 57 ND

MQ-2 7.7 -29.7 58.5

MQ-3 8.1 -51.4 58.5

 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

For water and wastewater run into Wadi Al Qilt (Ghasan, 2006)
Parameter Min Max Average

Na+(mg/L) 24 277.0 97.15

Ca2+(mg/L) 15.0 86.8 53.73
Mg2+(mg/L) 20.0 33.0 25.0
K+(mg/L) 1.6 33.0 12.07
Cl-(mg/L) 24.0 270.0 104.33
SO42-(mg/L) 16.0 37.0 28

NO3-(mg/L) 0.6 60.0 28.518

HCO3-(mg/L) 165.0 172.0 169.25

NH4+ (mg/L) 0.1 2.3 16.6

DOC (mg/L) 1.87 29.86 9.343

COD (mg/L) 38.0 479.0 130.78

BOD5 (mg/L) 9.0 136.0 44.58

EC (µS/cm) 458.0 1940.0 866.68

Turbidity (NTU) 2.0 162.0 41.0

TDS (mg/L) 296.0 1069.0 624.86

TSS (mg/L) 7 350 43.6

pH 6.57 8.40 7.72
Flow m3/h 38.5 1984.7 400.0
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

For Industrial wastewater consumption and generated as wastewater the West Bank (MENA, 1999)

Type of industry Water Consumption (m3/yr) Wastewater Generation (m3/yr)

Textile dyeing 1533600 1533600

Tanning Industry 410400 410400

Food & Beverage 1723680 689472

Construction 854000 256200

Stone processing 1116640 1116640

Chemical industry 112520 36608

Metal working & furniture 76358 76358

Wood working and furniture 12048 12048

Olive mills 375300 375300

Non-metallic 15240 6096

Plastic, rubber, sponge 5076 5076

Printing, paper and carton 4680 4680

Clothes, shoes & textile 43236 43236

6282778 4565714
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Wastewater characteristics for influent, effluent and removal efficacy from Al-Bireh WWTP. Results as an
average value in mg/l for Master Thesis done from March to September (Samhan, 2005).

Parameter Influent(mg/l) Effluent(mg/l) Removal efficacy (%)

COD tot 1224 234 81

CODsus 640 NM

BOD tot 605 56 91

Turbidity (NTU) 598 9.38 98

pH 7.43 7.60

TSS 574 24.5 95.5

TDS 1056 896 16

TS 1606 929 42
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Al-Bireh wastewater reuse demonstration project:

Al Bireh WWTP is located in Wadi Al-Ein (south of Al-Bireh city) over 2.2 ha area; it was
constructed in 2000. The connected population to sewers system in Al-Bireh city is about
60%, which amount to 50,000 inhabitants and designed to serve more than 100,000
inhabitants. The treatment system is extended aeration as activated sludge. The plant was
designed to treat 5750 m3/day with an overall retention time of 20 days (the present total
inflow is 3200 m3/day).

Al-Bireh wastewater treatment plant

 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Fresh water, raw and treated wastewater characteristics (WESC, 1997)

Property Unit Raw WW Activated sludge+TF Fresh water
(Rang) (Range)
EC (ms/cm) 0.9-6.73 0.36-3.79 7.5
pH Value 6.75-8.82 7.5-8.98 0.8
BOD mg/l 350-1374 10-720 55.2
COD mg/l 909-3500 18-2000 50.1
TSS mg/l 190-800 2-660 25
NO3 mg/l 2.8-5 15-55 10.2
PO4 mg/l 0.6-11.62 0.86-10 15
CL mg/l 165-2044 48-1000.2 2.7
HCO3 mg/l 500-592 180-421.3 17.5
SO4 mg/l 32-34.25 15-23.75 70
Ca mg/l 60.1-100 57.7-93.8 272
Mg mg/l 25-46.2 15.3-51 0.0
Na mg/l 200-667.7 31-724.5 1.3
K mg/l 6.5-10.11 1.4-8.83 0.0
SAR (mmole)1/2 6.48 5.46 0.0
B mg/l 0.11 0.13 ***
Cu mg/l 0.9 0.92

Zn mg/l 2.1 2.25

An overview of secondary, tertiary effluent and soil characteristics of Al-Bireh reclaimed wastewater reuse demonstration project Source:
CH2 MHILL, 2003a
No. Item Sampling Dates Parameter Results

1 Secondary treated water Continuously BOD 25-15 mg/l

TSS 35-25 mg/l

EC 1.7-1.5 DS/m

pH 7.5-7

N 40-30 mg/l

01 June, July, Residual chlorine 1.0-0.5 mg/l

2 Tertiary treated water August, 2003 Turbidity 1-2 NTU

24 June,2003 Fecal Coliform 0 CFU/100 ml

pH 7.5

ECe 0.5 dS/m

Na 1.0 meq/l

Ca 63.4 mg/l

Mg 13.2 mg/l

Cl 48 mg/l

HCO3 195 mg/l

SO4 43 mg/l

NO3 6.2 mg/kg

NH4 35 mg/kg
3 Soil 07 July, 2003
P-Olsen 3.0 mg/kg

K 6.1 mg/l

Mn 39.2 mg/kg

Zn 1.6 mg/kg

B 0.08 mg/l

CaCO3 6.4 %

Sand 16 %

Silty 49 %

Clay 35 %

Saturation 64 %
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

PSI- Palestinian Standards Institute, First Draft, (PS 2003-742) of the reuse of treated wastewater guidelines (2003). (-): not specified

Parameters Discharge into the sea- Artificial recharge of

500m far groundwater

TDS - 1500

pH 6-9 6-9

NO3 25 15

NH4 5 10

Cl - 600

Mg - 150

Ca - 400

Al 5 1

Ar 0.05 0.05

Cu 0.2 0.2

Fe 2 2

Mn 0.2 0.2

Ni 0.2 0.2

Pb 0.1 0.1

Se 0.02 0.02

Cd 0.01 0.01

Zn 5 5

CN 0.1 0.1

Cr 0.05 0.05

Hg 0.001 0.001

Co 1 0.05

B 2 1
INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Area for proposed sites

Proposed for
pilot study

Upstream site
(Existing partial
flume) Reservoir
of storm water
JICA

Downstream (slightly
down stream of
existing garbage
dumping site as
recharge pond
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Obstacles and difficulties

Generally wastewater reuse projects associated with many obstacles in the West Bank classified by political,
financial, social, institutional and technical ones.
• No work permits form the Israelis for treatment plants and lack of funds for collection systems.
•Reuse idea is still tied to the political issues concerned to the Palestinian water rights, since the Israelis ask to
consider the reused wastewater as a part of the total Palestinians fresh water rights.
•Non-availability of sewer networks and proper wastewater treatment systems for reuse practices, moreover;
there is a lack of expertise in the technical and O&M for wastewater systems.
•Technical capacities in the reuse projects are not formulated well to build on larger reuse projects.
• Week of networking system and information exchange for data available.
• Health monitoring systems is still week.
• Reuse standards is still not established, Israelis are asking for strict standards, while the Palestinians are not
able to manage some kind of the presented standards.
• Institutional structure: Efficient financial and technical management of the treatment plant and associated
facilities requires strong institutional support. At present, the institutional responsibilities for wastewater
management in the West Bank are not well defined due generally to the overall absence of significant
wastewater infrastructure.
• Integrated vision: no integrated vision developed for the reuse issues; this includes the political side,
institutional, water policy, awareness, marketing and tariff, ext.
 INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

References:

1. EPA. (1993). “Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention and Control Planning.” Washington D.C., EPA/625/R-93-004.
2. PSI- Palestinian Standards Institute, First Draft, (PS 2003-742) of the reuse of treated wastewater guidelines (2003).
3. ARIJ (1998). Environmental profile for the West Bank, Vol.4, Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem, Palestine.
4. CH2M HILL, Inc. (2003a). Demonstration projects of reclaimed wastewater and biosolids composting and reuse. Final
Report, CH2M HILL, Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine.
5. MenA (1999). Palestinian environmental strategy. Main report, Ministry of Environmental Affairs, West Bank, Palestine.
6. Palestinian Water Authority (2003). Wastewater Management Plant. Palestinian Water Authority.
7. Palestinian Water Authority (2001). Coastal Aquifer Management Program (CAMP), Integrated Aquifer Management
Plan (Task 25), Gaza.
8. Peter G. (2000). Appropriating Water Between Israel and Palestine: Environmental Concerns of Final Status Negotiation.
Available from: http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~wws401c/peter.pdf.
9. WESC (1997). Nablus wastewater treatment and reuse demonstration project. Intepretation Report, Water and
Environmental Studies Center, Al-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine.
INNOVA-MED: Innovative processes and practices
for wastewater treatment and re-use
in the Mediterranean region

Thank a lot
for your attention
and available time