Best Practices and its impact to Water Resources Sustainability 25th -26th January 2016, Ibri, Governorate of Al Dhahirah, Sultanate of Oman ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI Towards Sustainable Management and Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Arid Regions: UAE Case Study Dr. Mohamed A. Dawoud Water Resources Advisor, EAD
Water Use History ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 2
UAE Economic Development ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 3
Scarce Water Resources 0.65 2.4 1.85 Groundwater Desalination Treated Wastwater ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 4
Present Water Use 13% 40% 15% 32% Agriculture Domestic Forests Amenity and Landscapping ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 5
Future Increase in Water Demand Integrated Water Resources Management New Innovative Education and Frame Work institutional Technology Awareness Policy and Legal and Strategy Assessment of Available Water Resources and Demand ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 6
Discharging TSE to Environment is not Sustainable ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 7
Agricultural Reuse is just one out of many options • Agricultural Reuse • Urban Reuse : green areas, parks, golf courses, etc. • Recreational Reuse : lakes for swimming, boating, fishing, snow-making, etc. • Environmental Enhancement : creation / enhancement of wetlands, stream flow • Groundwater Recharge : potable water, salt water intrusion & subsidence control • Industrial Reuse : process water, cooling water, etc. • Residential Reuse : toilet, laundry, air-conditioning, etc. • Potable Reuse : direct or after blending with other sources Groundwater recharge Paddy field irrigation Osaka Castle (Japan) (Los Angeles, USA) ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 8
Two examples out of many: Water reuse is on the rise (1) California, USA (2) Abu Dhabi, USA Share of Wastewater Reuse in AD (%) 8.50% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 2010 1012 2014 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 9
Advantages • Reliable source of supply: little dependence on weather conditions. • Reduced stress on ‘traditional’ water supply: reduced demand for investments into expansion of existing water supply schemes, since part of ‘traditional’ water sources is replaced by reused sources. • Availability near to agricultural application , i.e. mostly outside cities. • High content of nutrients (N, P) permits to reduce application of synthetic fertilizers, thereby reducing cost. • Benefits for rural population. • Long experience exists in many countries at different levels of development. • Attractiveness of investment (private & public) in the wastewater sector increases as a whole, if there is a market for water reuse. • ‘WHO Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater. Vol.2 : Wastewater use in agriculture’ (2006) permit for a flexible approach towards treatment standards. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 10
Necessary considerations • Risk to human health? - Pathogens: bacteria, viruses, Helminths • Risk to environment? - Heavy metals - Organics (endocrine disrupters, antibiotics, halogenated compounds) - Salinity • Social acceptance? • Co-operation of different sectors is sometimes difficult . • Requirement for treatment and agricultural expertise , to analyse specific requirements and adjust to flexible treatment standards. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 11
Public Health Considerations Physical water quality considerations Turbidity, color, etc. Chemical water quality considerations Chemical constituents including solids, metals, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. Biological water quality considerations Pathogens including bacteria, helminths, virus, etc. Emerging water quality considerations Pharmaceuticals, hormonal products, personal care products, other EDC’s. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 12
Abu Dhabi Case Study: Present, Future and Challenges ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 13
Return To Sewer Theory (2013) • 2013 average drinking water use – Emirate wide Estimated RTS is ~ 25% outdoor indoor 1200 m M3 285 m M3 Water Wastewater 915 m M3 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 14
Existing Situation (2014) 3 water sources 7 main water uses 5% Lost 6% Recycled 2% Industry Water 6% Livestock 28% Desalinated 5% Amenity Water 3100 Million m ³ /year 24% Forestry 12% People Ground 66% Water 52% Agriculture ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 15
Present Wastewater Production in Abu Dhabi Emirate Total Daily Production = 1,117,437 m 3 Al Mafraq = 260,000 m 3 /day Al Saad = 80,000 m 3 /day Al Hama = 120,000 m 3 /day Al Wathba 1 = 300,000 m 3 /day Al Wathba 2 = 300,000 m 3 /day ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 16
Present Wastewater Reuse in Abu Dhabi Emirate 284 300 250 200 154 150 130 100 50 0 Production Reused Discharge to Env. 46% 54% Reused Discharge to Env. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 17
Future Wastewater Production in Abu Dhabi (2013-2030) 1600 1,435 1400 1200 1000 800 600 284 400 200 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 18
Drivers for Wastewater Reuse in Abu Dhabi • Scarcity of available Water Resources • Dependency on Desalinated water. • Desalination is very costly industry • Environmental impacts of desalination ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 19
Future Wastewater Possible Use Agriculture TUNISIA: REUSE OF RECYCLED WATER OLIVES PEACHES In Abu Dhabi • Roodhs Grass • Maize • Fodders ORANGES 20 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 20
Future Wastewater Possible Use Parks, Gardens and Amenity Plantations 21 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 21
Future Wastewater Possible Use Aquifer Soil treatment for the wastewater Recharge Very limited experience Seawater Intrusion Feasibility (direct use versus recharge) 22 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 22
Future Wastewater Possible Use Forests 7.5 11.6 23.0 2.2 55.8 Domestic Industry Agriculture Forestry Amenity 23 ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 23
Challenges Facing Wastewater Reuse 1. Limitation of Distribution Networks Production Collection Treatment Disposal Reuse Discharge to environment Domestic Ocean Desert Forestry Urban irrigation Wastewater Recycled Water Treatment System Disposal Sewerage District Cooling System System Biosolids Composting Scope of Bureau’s Agriculture Recycled Water & Biosolids Regulations Landfill ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 24
Challenges Facing Wastewater Reuse 2. Gaps in Regulation and Distribution Responsi bilities Sewerage Services Licensee Collection Treatment Disposal End Licensee Licensee Licensee Users Domestic use Trade Premises Reclaimed Reclaimed Water Water District Treatment cooling System Biosolids Collection Disposal System System Domestic Connections Biosolids Agriculture or Urban open space ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 25
Challenges Facing Wastewater Reuse 3. Institutional and Legal Challenges • Environment protection not a major concern • Unclear policies on wastewater reuse • Institutional conflicts; unclear mandates or responsibilities fragmentations • Social acceptance, reluctance (lack of awareness) • Absence of reuse guidelines/standards ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 26
Challenges Facing Wastewater Reuse 3. Environmental Challenges • Public health risks when irrigating with inadequately treated WW (e.g. gastro-intestinal infections, heavy metals, trace pollutants) • Environmental risks (mainly soil clogging, soil salinization, excess of nitrogen, GW & SW contamination) • Inefficient monitoring of WW reuse system: lack of trained personnel; lack of monitoring equipment; too high monitoring costs • Impact of wastewater discharge on marine ecosystem ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 27
Challenges Facing Wastewater Reuse 3. Economic and Technical challenges • Insufficient economic analysis for wastewater reuse • Relatively high cost of wastewater treatment and conveyance, coupled with pricing of irrigation water that does not adequately reflect its scarcity value • Difficulty in creating financial incentives for safe and efficient water reuse (wastewater versus free desalinated water). ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 28
Abu Dhabi Experience (Past and Present) • 20 years of reusing TSE in Amenity, green areas and landscaping • New advanced treatment plant for agriculture use (December 2012) • Saving 6 MIGD of Groundwater • Saving O$M Cost ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 29
Wastewater Design Criteria • Water quality requirements • Monitoring requirements • Treatment process requirements • Treatment reliability requirements • Operational requirements • Cross-connection control provisions • Use area controls ENVIRONMENT AGENCY – ABU DHABI PAGE 30
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