 ID: 124504
Added: 2008-05-12 8:30
Modified: 2008-10-27 4:36
Refreshed: 2008-11-29 20:21
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| WaDImena shares greywater model at wastewater conference in Morocco |
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WaDImena, together with organizations from 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, shared lessons learned at the regional conference on wastewater treatment and reuse held in Morocco from April 28th to May 1st 2008. WaDI mena attended a regional workshop on wastewater treatment and reuse held 28 th to May 1 st 2008 in Agadir in Morocco , together with organizations from 15 Middle East and North Africa ( MENA) countries. The conference, organized by EU funded projects (INNOVAMed, Cycler and MELIA) and hosted by Institut Agronomique et Veteriniare Hassan II, Agadir , Morocco, stressed the importance to foster safe reuse of wastewater in response to water scarcity particularly in countries in southern Mediterranean. During the conference, WaDImena analysed the potential of greywater in the region based on IDRC-WaDImena experience. Typology of benefits and constraints, as well as, the way forward in terms of research needed were presented. The major recommendations stated by the participants coming from 15 countries are listed below Given the situation of water shortage in the Mediterranean, the conference came with the following recommendations: - The use of non conventional water resources as significant and potential water resources. These include, treated domestic and industrial waste water, saline agriculture drainage water and brackish groundwater.
- Promote new low cost methodologies to treat wastewater
- Increasing water supply using desalination, rainfall harvesting and wastewater reuse.
- Develop new technologies to increase water supply by desalination and other methods not only for greenhouses but also for field scale
- Use available solar energies in fresh water production at least for small scale greenhouse application
- To adhere to guidelines for water quality that can be used in irrigation.
- To safeguard the environment when using poor quality water.
- To encourage in situ water treatment system for industrial and small businesses.
- To encourage the use of poor quality water for sports fields (e.g. golf courses)
- To use integrated management of water, field, soil and crop. Selection of drought and salinity tolerant crops, selection of the least water consuming crops, selection of the suitable and most efficient irrigation system, proper soil tillage to ensure homogeneous distribution of water to the plants and avoid salinization in some parts, apply leaching if salinity reaches critical levels, ensure adequate drainage system in place, etc.
- Set up an authority to be responsible for the use of treated wastewater in partnership with the end users. This authority, will give the users guide lines on using different water qualities for different uses (crops, golf courses, sports fields, parks, recreation grounds, etc.).
- Raising the awareness, acceptance and confidence of the consumers to accept food products irrigated with treated waster / poor quality waters.
- Training all those involved in using the non-conventional water resources including the treated waste water.
- Benefit from ancient practices and if possible improve them.
- Give incentives to farmers using non-conventional water resources (low price for irrigation water, lower prices for other inputs like fertilizers, pesticides etc.).
2008-05-01
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