Lessons learned from the Mediterranean countries using TWW for agricultural production, By Xanthoulis Dimitri, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech– Université de Liège, Land and Water Days in Near East & North Africa, 15-18 December 2013, Amman, Jordan

1. Lessons learned from the Mediterranean countries
using TWW for agricultural production.
Xanthoulis Dimitri
Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech– Université de Liège

2. Constraints identification
• Not enough treated wastewater of sufficient quality and
quantity
• Limited acceptance by the farmers and the end-consumer
• No explicit national/governmental strategy on wastewater
reuse
• Storage: Continuous production but seasonal demand for
treated ww;
• Weak enforcement of existing legislation
• Weak or non-existing organisation of the users of treated
wastewater
The main constraint is the poor water quality

3. direct negative impact
The main constraint is the poor water quality
(1) the introduction of modern irrigation techniques
such as drip irrigation is difficult
(2) frequent maintenance of equipment is required,
which makes costly and cumbersome the irrigation
activity.

4. success of irrigation projects with
TWW
Require:
(1) the compliance of the TWW reuse standards for
agriculture,
(2) the irrigation perimeter shall be as close as possible
to the wastewater treatment plan
(3) the inter- seasonal storage should be possible
(4) involvement of beneficiaries must be acquired.

5. Proposed actions
As long term effect action,
- Initiate a master plan for WWR
- Rehabilitation of the public WWTP to meet the discharge
standards in the natural environment
As short term action; three pilot projects:
a) monitoring of groundwater recharge,
b) Implementation of a complementary treatment by sand
filters before groundwater recharge to prevent clogging of
infiltration basins and the need for periodic partial
regeneration
c) Improve tertiary treatment by sand infiltration followed by a
maturation pond for direct reuse,

6. Filière complète de Traitement des eaux usées
Collecteur
1
Traitement 1aire = traitement mécanique et
Traitement 2aire = traitement biologique de la pollution
organique par boues activées
2
EUT secondaire
Filtre à tamis
autonettoyant
Filtre à sable
Bassin de
maturation
Traitement tertiaire
3
Irrigation

8. Thank you for your attention