42
O. Mahjoub et al.
Most of the wastewater produced by inland towns is used to irrigate about 7,235 ha
of crops after insufficient or even no treatment. There exist about 70 irrigated areas,
located mainly in Marrakech (2000 ha), Meknes (1400 ha), and Oujda (1175 ha).
Some pilot projects were launched in Fez, Al Attaouia, and Drarga, which include
construction of innovative wastewater treatment plants (UN Water 2008). In 2017,
45% of the produced effluents were collected and treated (compared to 8% in 2005)
and 60% of effluents were discharged into the sea, while the rest went to other water
bodies (DRPE 2017).
About 70 million m
3 of raw wastewater has been used every year to irrigate fodders,
cereals, and fruit trees. Irrigated lands are usually located at downstream effluent
discharge points, around treatment plants. Irrigation of vegetables is forbidden in
principle, but the ban is generally not respected (Chouk-Aallah and Hamdy 2005).
Recent research studies have contributed to improving the reuse for various purposes.
A total of 47.6 million m
3 of treated effluents are planned for golf courses (52%),
agricultural irrigation (25%), and industrial use (15%) (DRPE 2017). In 2016, about
550 million m
3 of effluents were produced. This figure is expected to reach more
than 600 million m
3 in 2020 and about 740 million m
3 in 2030. The potential volume
available for reuse by 2030 is estimated at 325 million m
3 , with a majority in the
Souss Massa and Sebou watersheds and a target rate of reuse of 90% (DRPE 2017).
In Algeria, treated wastewater represents a promising alternative water resource
that can be used to irrigate water shortage areas and replenish aquifers in regions
where groundwater is overexploited. In 1985, 660 million m
3 were discharged
because of deficient sanitary services and the low rate of connection to the sewer
system. In 2007, only 48% of the population was connected to urban wastewater treatment plants. Consistent with these deficiencies, the four priority population types for
the construction of WWTPs are (i) communities of more than 100,000 inhabitants; (ii)
those situated upstream of dams already existing or in construction (iii) cities along
the coast; and (iv) agglomerations of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. In 2009, about
86% of the urban population had access to sanitation. A program was implemented
to rehabilitate the sewage network in 12 cities, construct 44 sewage treatment plants,
and build 42 stabilization ponds to reach a treatment capacity of 1.2 billion m3/year
by 2020 (Raouan Hacen et al. 2011). As of 2016, 136 WWTPs with a capacity of
1.4 million m
3 /day were producing 207 million m
3 per year of treated effluents per
year (Khachaba 2017), compared to 700 million m
3 per year of wastewater treated
in 2011 (ONA 2012). Natural and aerated ponds are the main treatment processes
in place with 70 WWTPs, in addition to activated sludge (63 WWTPs) (Khachaba
2017). The waste sector accounts for 10% of greenhouse emissions in Algeria.
The rate of reuse of treated wastewater in Algeria is still very low, with only 3.2%
of the produced effluents reused (Guardiola-Claramonte et al. 2012). The situation
in Algeria is a challenging one, although the National Plan for Water 2005 provides a
good foundation for the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management
(AWC/UNDP/CEDARE 2005). The reuse of treated wastewater was abandoned for
a long time in some regions, because of malfunctioning wastewater treatment plants.
With the restoration of the old treatment plants and the construction of new plants,
O. Mahjoub et al.
Most of the wastewater produced by inland towns is used to irrigate about 7,235 ha
of crops after insufficient or even no treatment. There exist about 70 irrigated areas,
located mainly in Marrakech (2000 ha), Meknes (1400 ha), and Oujda (1175 ha).
Some pilot projects were launched in Fez, Al Attaouia, and Drarga, which include
construction of innovative wastewater treatment plants (UN Water 2008). In 2017,
45% of the produced effluents were collected and treated (compared to 8% in 2005)
and 60% of effluents were discharged into the sea, while the rest went to other water
bodies (DRPE 2017).
About 70 million m
3 of raw wastewater has been used every year to irrigate fodders,
cereals, and fruit trees. Irrigated lands are usually located at downstream effluent
discharge points, around treatment plants. Irrigation of vegetables is forbidden in
principle, but the ban is generally not respected (Chouk-Aallah and Hamdy 2005).
Recent research studies have contributed to improving the reuse for various purposes.
A total of 47.6 million m
3 of treated effluents are planned for golf courses (52%),
agricultural irrigation (25%), and industrial use (15%) (DRPE 2017). In 2016, about
550 million m
3 of effluents were produced. This figure is expected to reach more
than 600 million m
3 in 2020 and about 740 million m
3 in 2030. The potential volume
available for reuse by 2030 is estimated at 325 million m
3 , with a majority in the
Souss Massa and Sebou watersheds and a target rate of reuse of 90% (DRPE 2017).
In Algeria, treated wastewater represents a promising alternative water resource
that can be used to irrigate water shortage areas and replenish aquifers in regions
where groundwater is overexploited. In 1985, 660 million m
3 were discharged
because of deficient sanitary services and the low rate of connection to the sewer
system. In 2007, only 48% of the population was connected to urban wastewater treatment plants. Consistent with these deficiencies, the four priority population types for
the construction of WWTPs are (i) communities of more than 100,000 inhabitants; (ii)
those situated upstream of dams already existing or in construction (iii) cities along
the coast; and (iv) agglomerations of fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. In 2009, about
86% of the urban population had access to sanitation. A program was implemented
to rehabilitate the sewage network in 12 cities, construct 44 sewage treatment plants,
and build 42 stabilization ponds to reach a treatment capacity of 1.2 billion m3/year
by 2020 (Raouan Hacen et al. 2011). As of 2016, 136 WWTPs with a capacity of
1.4 million m
3 /day were producing 207 million m
3 per year of treated effluents per
year (Khachaba 2017), compared to 700 million m
3 per year of wastewater treated
in 2011 (ONA 2012). Natural and aerated ponds are the main treatment processes
in place with 70 WWTPs, in addition to activated sludge (63 WWTPs) (Khachaba
2017). The waste sector accounts for 10% of greenhouse emissions in Algeria.
The rate of reuse of treated wastewater in Algeria is still very low, with only 3.2%
of the produced effluents reused (Guardiola-Claramonte et al. 2012). The situation
in Algeria is a challenging one, although the National Plan for Water 2005 provides a
good foundation for the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management
(AWC/UNDP/CEDARE 2005). The reuse of treated wastewater was abandoned for
a long time in some regions, because of malfunctioning wastewater treatment plants.
With the restoration of the old treatment plants and the construction of new plants,