Sustainable Development of Drylands in Asia and the Middle...

Sustainable Development of Drylands in

Asia and the Middle East: Jordan Component

Visit Report

Prepared

by

Akrum H. Tamimi, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering The University of Arizona

July 1, 2003

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Table of Contents Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 2

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 4

I. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 5

II. Aqaba .................................................................................................................................. 5

1. Aqaba Wastewater Treatment Plant.................................................................................... 6

2. Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority’s Wastewater Reuse Master Plan..................... 7

3. Desert Plants Garden........................................................................................................... 7

4. Comments and Remarks ..................................................................................................... 7

III. Biosolids Characterization and Applications at Wadi Mousa and Wadi Hassan WWTPs. 8

1. Laboratories at Water Authority of Jordan ......................................................................... 8

2. Finalizing Biosolids Proposal ............................................................................................. 9

3. Subcontract ....................................................................................................................... 10

4. Brainstorm Session to Develop a New Proposal Involving the Different Jordanian

Institutions......................................................................................................................... 10

IV. Social Aspects of the Communities at Wadi Mousa......................................................... 10

V. Developing Irrigation Management Systems Using Treated Wastewater for Jordan....... 11

1. The University of Jordan .................................................................................................. 11

2. Wadi Mousa ...................................................................................................................... 12

a. Wadi Mousa Wastewater Treatment Plant ................................................................... 12

b. Wadi Mousa Demonstration Site .................................................................................. 13

c. Scope of Work at Wadi Mousa and JUST Demo Sites ................................................ 15

d. Comments and Remarks ............................................................................................... 15

3. Jordan University for Science and Technology................................................................ 16

a. Seminar at JUST ........................................................................................................... 17

b. Meeting With the Wastewater Reuse Pilot Project Staff .............................................. 17

c. JUST Demo Site #1 ...................................................................................................... 17

d. Wadi Hassan Demo Site ............................................................................................... 18

e. Comments and Remarks ............................................................................................... 18

VI. Wastewater Re-use Visitor’s Center at Wadi Mousa ....................................................... 19

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VII. Proposal Development for IALC Research and Demonstration Fund.............................. 20

1. Provide The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library to JUST and to the University of

Jordan................................................................................................................................ 20

2. Development of New Proposals with Dr. Tamimi............................................................ 20

3. Developing Joint Proposals with IALC/University of Arizona........................................ 21

VIII. Capacity Building ............................................................................................................. 21

1. Technical Visit .................................................................................................................. 21

2. Workshop on Microbial Pathogen Aspects of Wastewater and Biosolids Reuse............. 23

3. National Workshop on Wastewater and Biosolids Reuse (May 2004)............................. 24

4. Wastewater and Biosolids Reuse Curriculum................................................................... 24

IX. Rap up Meeting................................................................................................................. 25

X. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 26

Appendix A: Figures

Appendix B: Pictures

Appendix C: Visitor Center Concept Plan for Wadi Mousa

Appendix D: Dr. Manar Fayyad Proposals

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Executive Summary In an attempt to initiate and stimulate the scope of work for the Jordan component of the Sustainable Development of Drylands in Asia and the Middle East project, Dr. Akrum Tamimi, as a member of the, IALC project, Technical Assistance Team was selected to travel to Jordan. Through meetings with involved Jordanian institutions, group discussions, and visits to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, (ASEZA), Wadi Mousa’s Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the Re-use demo site adjacent to the treatment plant, the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan University for Science and Technology (JUST) in Irbid, the Badia Research and Development Programme (BRDP), the Royal Scientific Society (RSS/ERC) in Amman and the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ); many activities were initiated and advanced. Dr. Tamimi was able to obtain technical data and information regarding ASEZA’s wastewater re-use master plan and the proposed desert plants garden in Aqaba. He was also able to finalize and start up the Bio-solids Characterization and Application at Wadi Mousa and Wadi Hassan, Phase I project. He initiated the discussion of the Technical Visit to Arizona in August, 2003 and started the process of participants’ nominations. At Wadi Mousa, the marketing plan to market the wastewater re-use concept and the visitor center were discussed and recommendations were made. An ad hoc committee to steer the bio-solids characterization project and be a seed for a committee that would enhance communication and cooperation among Jordanian Institutions was initiated Diversification of Cropping Patterns and Introduction of New Crops Irrigated by Reclaimed Water at the Pilots Under the “Wastewater Reuse Implementation Project” was studied, discussed and recommendations were introduced. Capacity building activities for Jordanian institutions involved in the wastewater and bio-solids re-use were introduced, discussed, and evaluated and recommendations were made.

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I. Introduction As a member of the IALC project, Technical Assistance Team, Dr. Akrum Tamimi traveled to Jordan to work on the objectives listed below: 1. Assist the Badia Research and Development Programme (BRDP), and the Royal Scientific

Society - Environmental Research Center ( RSS/ERC), in the start-up of the bio-solids project and any final proposal modifications.

2. Assist the BRDP and RSS/ERC to establish coordination of the advisory body and the necessary government agency linkages for the bio-solids project.

3. Obtain site specific information from Wadi Hassan, Wadi Mousa and Aqaba requested by the IALC project faculty (climate/rainfall data, soil type or soil surveys, wastewater quality and quantities, specific known problems such as salinity, etc).

4. Assist in preparation of proposal outlines from BRDP, JUST, and University of Jordan Water and Environmental Research Study Center (WERSC), on topics of wastewater re-use for submission to the IALC Research and Development Fund.

5. Assist BRDP in identification of potential visitors to the U.S. for small group training.

6. Travel to the three pilot project sites: Wadi Mousa, Aqaba and Wadi Hassan.

This report is divided into sections based on activities, location of activities and type of activities. The table of contents is designed in a way that can be a guide for the reader. It lists the main heading then the sub heading then the sub-sub heading and so on.

II. Aqaba Dr. Tamimi traveled to Aqaba and visited with people from the ASEZA. People he met with are: 1. Dr. Salim Al-Moghrabi, Head of Permits and Environmental Impact Assessment Division

Micro-Biologist Tel: 962-3-209-1000, ext. 2284 Cell: 962-79-594-5127 Fax: 962-3-201-4204 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

2. Engr. Thaer AlHaj Ahmad, ASEZA Physical Planning Directorate Masters Degree in Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning Cell: 962-77-996-611 Email: [email protected]

3. Mr. Tayseer Al-Masri, PA Consulting site Engineer at Aqaba reuse project Working on his Ph.D. Dissertation at University of Jordan

4. Mr. Hani Habbab, PA Consulting Site Engineer at Aqaba reuse project.

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1. Aqaba Wastewater Treatment Plant The Aqaba Wastewater Treatment Plant, WWTP, started operation in 1987 and was constructed using USAID Funds. The treatment plant’s design hydraulic load is 9,000 m3/day and currently the plant is handling an average influent flow rate of 11,000 m3/day. The plant uses facultative and maturation ponds. The volumes of influent and effluent don’t fluctuate throughout the year. From the Aqaba WWTP records, the influent flow rate for the month of April, 2003 was 10,464 m3/day and after percolation and evaporation of the treated wastewater, the effluent was 7,818 m3/day. The reuse amounts and the surplus are shown in Table 1 while the characteristics of the influent and effluent are shown in Table 2 below.

Table 1: Fate of effluent produced by the Aqaba WWTP for the Months of April 2003 Usage Volume of Effluent

(m3/day) Irrigate the Hashemite Forest 1,000Irrigate the Al-Haq palm trees 1,744Irrigate the Salam (Peace) forest farm 560Irrigate ASEZA Forest 350Used by Water Authority of Jordan, WAJ 500Surplus – available for irrigation but left in ponds to evaporate

3,664

Total 7,818 Originally there were 4 percolation basins of 36 m by 480 meters. Thirty hectares of percolation basins were added since 1987. Now, all ponds have been saturated and hence all percolation ponds act as evaporation ponds. The effect of the percolation of the treated wastewater on the Desi aquifer is not known and has never been studied. The Desi aquifer is a huge non-recharging basin that has more than 200-years reserve of fresh water.

Table 2: Aqaba WWTP Influent and Effluent Characteristics for the Month of April 2003 Influent Average

Monthly Flow rate (m3/day)

BOD Mg/l

COD mg/l

TSS mg/l

TDSmg/l

pH mg/l

DO mg/l

NH4 mg/l

10464 398 610 272 744 6.7 0.6 55

Effluent Average Monthly Flow rate (m3/day)

BOD mg/l

BOD (mg/l)

Filtered

COD mg/l

TSS mg/l

TDSmg/l

pH mg/l

DO mg/l

NH4 mg/l

7818 100 30 273 563 898

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2. Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority’s Wastewater Reuse Master Plan

A master plan has been developed for ASEZA for reusing the treated effluent to green urban areas. Figure 1, presented in appendix A, shows the master plan while figure 2 is a detailed blow up of the surroundings of the international airport proposed location. Notice in figure 2 and table 1 the locations of the farms where treated effluent is being used for irrigation. PA Consulting, as a contractor for USAID, is working on a demonstration pilot project close to the international airport proposed site. The demonstration site will serve as a research site to study the effect of using treated effluent on plants and soil. In addition, PA Consulting is helping to improve management at Al Haq farm so as to use the farm as an extension demonstration site irrigated using treated wastewater.

3. Desert Plants Garden A desert plants garden is proposed to be established in Aqaba for demonstration purposes to encourage the Aqaba residents to accept the re-use of treated effluent in their neighborhood gardens once the greening master plan using treated effluent is implemented in the city of Aqaba. ASEZA has identified a location for the desert plants garden. The location is not labeled in figure 1 or in figure 2. Pic 1 through Pic 4 are pictures with explanations of the identified site for the desert plants garden. The term Pic is used here as an abbreviation for picture and those pictures are shown in appendix B of this report. An alternative/additional site(s) for the desert plants garden is/are available outside city limits in the proximity to the proposed international airport site; however, a site within city limits is preferred for obvious reasons of demonstration.

4. Comments and Remarks ASEZA greening master plan should have an alternative plan in case it can not be implemented. Golf courses can be constructed and irrigated using tertiary treated effluent. IALC can help in the design of such golf courses. It is the author’s belief that the effluent characteristics shown above in table 2 don’t reflect the real values. The tests are not performed by an independent laboratory. The Author believes that the IALC project can help in designing the desert plants garden and can select the type of plants that can be grown in it. If the desert plants garden is established inside the city limits as suggested earlier, the treated effluent generated today from the Aqaba WWTP will not be allowed to be used to irrigate the garden according to the Jordanian Standards, JS893:2002. Table 3 below shows the maximum allowable limit per end use for the re-use of treated effluent in parks and sides of roads within city limits defined by the JS893:2002 vs. the treated effluent generated from Aqaba WWTP.

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Therefore, it is suggested that fresh water be used in the cactus garden when it is first implemented then the water can be switched to treated effluent once the new WWTP is constructed and tertiary quality effluent is generated.

Table 3: JS893:2002 allowable Limit per end use Characteristics for use in parks and sides of roads vs. effluent Characteristics

Effluent BOD mg/l

BOD (mg/l) Filtered

COD mg/l

TSS mg/l

Aqaba WWTP Characteristics 100 30 273 563 JS 893:2002 <30 <30 <100 <50

III. Biosolids Characterization and Applications at Wadi Mousa and Wadi Hassan WWTPs

The third version of the bio-solids proposal submitted by RSS/ERC was approved for funding by IALC. Some modifications and revisions to the proposal were requested by the IALC Technical Assistance Team. A meeting at the RSS/ERC was held to discuss the changes and to discuss the subcontract between BRDP and RSS/ERC to conduct the research. The transfer of funds to BRDP and RSS/ERC was pending the signature of the contract. Dr. Tamimi met with the following RSS/ERC at least 3 times to finalize the characterization of Biosolids Phase I project and to get the subcontract signed: 1. Dr. Bassam Hayek: RSS/ERC Director

Tel: 962-6-534-4701 Cell: 962-79-558-1130 Fax: 962-6-534-4806 Email: [email protected]

2. Engineer Wa’el Suleiman: Water & Environmental Engineer – RSS/ERC Tel: 962-6-534-4701 Cell: 962-77-423-418 Fax: 962-6-534-4806 Email: [email protected]

1. Laboratories at Water Authority of Jordan The first version of the bio-solids proposal was developed by RSS/ERC in cooperation with the Water Authority of Jordan, (WAJ) and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. Since the characterization of the bio-solids will take place in the Wadi Mousa and Wadi Hassan’s WWTPs, it was suitable to visit officials from WAJ and inform them about the approval for funding for phase I of the project by IALC. An appointment was made and Dr. Tamimi met with:

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1. Engr. Munther A. Khleifat, Secretary General

Water Authority of Jordan, MWI Tel: +962-6-566-9965 Email: [email protected]

2. Engr. Saleh Malkawi, Chemical Engineer

Director of Reclaimed Water and Environment, MWI Tel: 962-6-523-5110 Cell: 962-79-523-5110 Email: [email protected]

During the meeting, Engr. Khleifat and Engr. Malkawi explained the role of WAJ in the development of the water and wastewater sectors in Jordan. It turned out that there exists an Environmental and Wastewater Reuse unit and a watershed management department within the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. Dr. Tamimi briefly explained the objectives of his visits and provided information about the Biosolids project, approval for funding by IALC and the targeted starting date of activities being July 1, 2003. In addition, Dr. Tamimi requested nominations for two specialists in the area of wastewater and bio-solids re-use for the Technical Visit to Arizona. The Secretary General asked for an official invitation and requested that Dr. Tamimi visit the WAJ water and wastewater laboratories. Dr. Tamimi indicated that he would be interested in visiting the WAJ labs if time permits and indicated that another specialist from IALC project will be making a second round of assessment of laboratories in Jordan. It should be mentioned that the contact people for making visits to WAJ laboratories are: Dr. Nawal Al-Sanna’, Tel: +962-6-586-4362, or Mr. Zakariah Tarawneh, Tel: +962-6-586-6588

2. Finalizing Bio-solids Proposal Dr. Tamimi and the RSS/ERC staff worked together to respond to the comments and recommendations that were made by IALC Technical Assistance Team. A final version of the proposal was developed including a new budget that covers the startup cost that would be requested. The final version of the Biosolids proposal and budget were sent to IALC via email. The time period of the research project was indicated to be 12 months, of which 10 months will be allocated for the characterization of the Biosolids. It was determined that a target date of July 1, 2003 be the starting date of the research. This date allows the characterization to cover most of the summer months and include the winter and spring months as well. It is important to mention here that Dr. Tamimi obtained a copy in the Arabic language of the Jordan Standards: JS: 1145/1996 that pertains to “Sludge: Uses of sludge in agriculture”.

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3. Subcontract A special subcontract was developed by RSS/ERC that governs the relationship between BRDP and RSS/ERC for the Biosolids Phase I project. Dr. Tamimi and the RSS/ERC staff reviewed the subcontract, discussed it with the staff at BRDP and made necessary modification. The contract was approved by Mr. Mohammad Shahbaz, BRDP director. Mr. Shahbaz sent it to the board of directors to be signed. It was suggested that this would take about one week to be signed. Transfer of funds and starting the research project are pending on the signing of the subcontract. Follow up calls to BRDP will be made by Dr. Tamimi to make sure that the subcontract is signed on time While compiling and revising this report, the contract has been signed and a copy was faxed to IALC and the original was sent by mail.

4. Brainstorm Session to Develop a New Proposal Involving the Different Jordanian Institutions.

Dr. Bassam Hayek from RSS/ERC requested that a brainstorming session be held at RSS/ERC to develop proposals to be submitted to the IALC research and development fund. The brainstorming session was conducted and the Choi/Pepper/Gerba proposal on “Quantification and prediction of pathogen reduction in Biosolids” was presented to RSS/ERC and discussed. It seems that ERC is interested in developing proposals for such research to take place in Jordan. This can take place during the proposed “Technical Visit to Arizona”. Please see section on Capacity Building: Technical Visit below. While reviewing and revising this report, it turned out that the technical visit will take place during the last part of September, 2003. Therefore, the development of the “Quantification and prediction of pathogen reduction in Biosolids” proposal should start during July, 2003 and be finalized during the technical visit in September. It was indicated by Dr. Hayek that RSS/ERC would like to have an additional person to be sent to The University of Arizona to be trained in the specific area of lab testing. Dr. Tamimi indicated to him to write down the needs and submit a proposal to Dr. Tamimi/IALC so the request can be discussed further. In addition Dr. Tamimi indicated to Dr. Hayek that such advance training will be proposed later by the IALC project to take place at The University of Arizona and might include training at Jordan institutions. This training is discussed in a separate section later in this report.

IV. Social Aspects of the Communities at Wadi Mousa

A social study was developed by BRDP through a University of Jordan faculty member, Dr. Tarawneh, to study the social aspects of irrigation with treated effluent at Wadi Mousa. The study would determine the acceptance, the land use, and the sensitivity of the issue of re-use towards the local residents and tribes.

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The study is currently being edited and BRDP and Dr. Amal Hijazi from USAID – Amman mission promised to send to the IALC project director a copy of the study once completed. The IALC project will be asked to consider helping BRDP through supplying technical support to develop the study further and to analyze the results and findings of the research study.

V. Developing Irrigation Management Systems Using Treated Wastewater for Jordan

During Dr. Tamimi’s visits to the re-use sites, treated wastewater of different qualities and quantities was being used to irrigate different crops grown in different weather conditions and soil types. The irrigation was taking place without the implementation of any management system. The irrigation systems used were inadequately designed, if designed at all. Salts were being added to soils without any consideration to sustainability especially in locations of about 200mm annual rainfall. In this section, a visit to the University of Jordan is presented, description of the treatment plants, crops planted and irrigation systems used for Wadi Mousa, JUST and Wadi Hassan demonstration sites are given.

1. The University of Jordan Dr. Tamimi visited Dr. Mohammad Shatnawi, the dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Jordan. Dr. Tamimi explained very briefly the Sustainable Development of Drylands project and the objectives of his visit to Jordan. Dr. Shatnawi is a consultant working for BRDP, the subcontractor for the Wadi Mousa demonstration and pilot project sites for the reuse of treated effluent. Dr Shatnawi sounded very positive and supportive of the BRDP and commended their handling of the project. Dr. Shatnawi was very enthusiastic about having the 5 Jordanian institutions involved in the re-use implementation project working together and developing the best possible proposals to be submitted to the IALC research and demonstration fund and suggested working with The University of Arizona faculty members. During a second visit to the University of Jordan, Dr. Tamimi met with: Professor Manar Fayyad, Director of Water & Environment Research & Study Center, WERSC University of Jordan, Amman-Jordan Tel: +962-6-535-5000 ext. 2332 Fax: +962-6-535-5560 Email: [email protected]

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Dr. Tamimi discussed The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library (TEEAL) that the IALC project is intending to provide for the University of Jordan. Dr. Fayyad thanked IALC for proposing such a research tool for the university. She indicated that this will enhance the development of proposals written at University of Jordan. For further information about this topic please see section on “The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library to JUST and to the University of Jordan” discussed later.

2. Wadi Mousa

a. Wadi Mousa Wastewater Treatment Plant Dr. Tamimi visited Wadi Mousa WWTP. He met with the following staff from the Wadi Mousa WWTP: 1. Engr. Haider Rawashdeh, WWTP General Manager, B.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S.

in Sanitary Engineering. Email: [email protected]

2. Engr. Saleh Rawaddbeh: Chemical Engineer 3. Engr. Fawaz Al-Shawamreh: Mechanical Engineer. The Wadi Mousa WWTP was constructed by USAID, and started operation in 2001. The WWTP treats domestic wastewater collected from Wadi Mousa, Teiba, Beida, and B’Doul Towns; with 80% of the influent coming from Wadi Mousa (Petra tourists site location). The treatment consists of preliminary treatment, secondary treatment, nitrogen removal, disinfection, solid removal, solid treatment and solid disposal. The Wadi Mousa WWTP was designed to handle an average of 3400 m3/day. The influent flow rate usually fluctuates for the WWTP. Figure 3 presented in appendix A shows the flow rate for the month of May, 2003 with an average flow rate of 826 m3/day and a standard deviation of 203 m3/day. This indicates that the WWTP is under utilized, resulting in the operation of only one train of the treatment plant. The characteristics of the influent and effluent for the month of February, 2003 at Wadi Mousa WWTP are shown in table 4. It can be seen from Table 4 the presence of a high level of salts in the treated effluent indicating the need of a good management system when using the effluent in irrigating crops.

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Table 4: Characteristics of Influent and Effluent for the month of February 2003 at Wadi Mousa WWTP

Parameter Influent (mg/ltr) Effluent (mg/ltr) TS 1548 899 TSS 650 6 TDS 898 893 BOD5 620 7 COD 1346 56 Ammonia 58.5 1.9 R. Cl2 1.6 Turbidity 2.31 F. Coliform pH 7.33 7.21

The Wadi Mousa Treatment plant has 16 – 10 meters by 35 meters drying beds that are available for Biosolids treatment. The drying beds are designed as sand filters, where the liquid is drained and is sent back to the treatment plant and the Biosolids are left on the beds to dry for 4 to 6 weeks. This is where RSS/ERC is going to conduct the Biosolids characterization as per their proposal to IALC. Pic 5 shows a shot of the 16 drying beds; notice the sand filter at the far end of the right hand side bed; while Pic 6 shows a general layout of the WWTP with the 16 drying beds shown. It should be mentioned here that the Wadi Mousa WWTP has no telephone line and no internet connectivity.

b. Wadi Mousa Demonstration Site When USAID planned the Wadi Mousa WWTP, a reuse component for irrigating agricultural crops was part of the project. Most of the treated effluent is discharged into the Wadi now. One can deduce from Table 4 and the Jordanian Standard JS893:2002 that the effluent is suitable for irrigating most of the crops present in the: JS893:2002. More than 1000 dunums (1 dunum is equivalent to 1000 m2 = 0.1 hectare) of land are available for agricultural production using treated effluent adjacent to the Wadi Mousa WWTP. This land is referred to in this report as the agricultural production land. The agricultural production land is owned and administered by the Petra Regional Authority (PRA). PRA in cooperation with BRDP is planning to assign different parcels of the land to different local farmers to use the land to grow different kinds of crops irrigated with the treated effluent. Pic 7 and Pic 8 show photos of the proposed reuse agricultural production land; note the type of soil present at the site. For demonstration purposes and as a marketing tool of the idea of reusing treated effluent in agriculture, about 69 dumums have been allocated to be used as a demo site. Pic 9 shows the location of the demo site in relation to the Wadi Mousa WWTP while Pic 10 shows the fraction of the demo site planted. The implementation of the demo site is funded by USAID as part of the USAID – Jordan Mission – re-use implementation program and is contracted to PA Consulting. PA Consulting is subcontracting the implementation to BRDP, who in turn is hiring

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consultants from the College of Agriculture at the University of Jordan to implement the demo site. The consultants from the University of Jordan are:

1. Dr. Mohammad Shatanawi 2. Dr. Jamal Sawan 3. Dr. Hani Souob

The implementation of the demo site at Wadi Mousa started in September, 2002. Land leveling and site preparation took 3 months. A site Engineer, Engineer Radwan Farajat was hired by PA Consulting in December, 2002. The actual planting of the demo site started in February, 2003 and funding for the demo site is supposed to end in December, 2003. Elevation of the demo site is about 1100 meters above sea level and has an annual rainfall average of about 200 mm with occasional high intensity causing flash flooding and erosion. Pic 11 is a shot of the demo site and soil erosion caused by high intensity rainfall. It was indicated to Dr. Tamimi that no weather data is available for the site or the surrounding area. No soil data was available at the demo site but the site engineer indicated that a number of soil samples were taken to the University of Jordan for analysis. By inspection, the soil type varies in texture spatially and can be designated as Sand, Loam and Sandy loam for the different locations of the demonstration and the agricultural production site. In February, 2003, the following crops were planted in a fraction of the demo site (less than 10% of the 69 dunums of the demo site):

1. Palm trees 2. Almonds 3. Olive trees 4. Lemon 5. Flowers 6. Alfalfa 7. Corn.

Due to the fact that no irrigation system was installed at the demo site, most of the crops mentioned above were irrigated by local laborers using hand held hoses. Corn was planted on hand-dug furrows and irrigated by laborers also using hand held hoses. None of the workers or laborers was inoculated for any type of infectious diseases. Pic 12 shows pine trees irrigated by hose and Pic13 shows a shot of corn planted on a furrow bed. Alfalfa is grown in a leveled field and was irrigated with treated effluent using a sprinkler system as shown in Pic 14; even though this is not allowed under the JS893: 2002 standard. Prefabricated offices were located at the demo site and have been equipped with an air conditioner, but, there is neither electrical power nor an electrical generator present on the site.

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c. Scope of Work at Wadi Mousa and JUST Demo Sites Dr. Tamimi visited PA Consulting, the contracting firm hired by USAID – Amman Mission, to implement the bilateral wastewater reuse project in Jordan. He met with: Mr. Charles W. McElroy, Chief of Party Water Reuse Program, Amman Jordan USAID Project Managed by PA Government Services Inc. Tel: 962-6-567-9949 Fax: 962-6-567-9949 Mobile: 962-79-508-8236 Email: [email protected] During the meeting Dr. Tamimi shared his concerns about the lack of actual designs of the irrigation systems at JUST’s demo sites; and the absence of an irrigation system at Wadi Mousa. Dr. Tamimi also indicated that a management system needs to be introduced and implemented for the 69 dunum demo site at Wadi Mousa then the system should be improved after testing and be implemented at the 1000 dunum production land. Mr. McElroy admitted that the systems that are being used in the demo plots are just a starting point and in stage II of the implementation project this will change and a full design and a scientifically sound management approach will be introduced. Mr. McElroy hinted at the fact that the IALC project can help him in the technical aspects of the project as subcontractor to PA Consulting. Dr. Tamimi believes that PA Consulting could use the IALC project help. However, the appropriate relationship between PA Consulting and the IALC project remains to be defined. Phase II of the implementation project starts in January 2004 and will last about 32 months. Phase II of the implementation project will include the treatment plant and re-use for Mafraq, a city in the Northern part of Jordan. Mafraq WWTP has been designed by CH2MHIL and the bidding for construction is under way while this report is being compiled. It should be mentioned here that USAID is committed to fund the Mafraq WWTP and include a re-use component as part of the project.

d. Comments and Remarks 1. The IALC project can provide Jordan with safety procedures to make sure people

working with treated effluent don’t catch contagious diseases while handling and working with treated effluent. The procedures can indicate the preliminary knowledge of handling treated wastewater and crops irrigated with treated wastewater. Also vaccinations against contagious diseases can be part of the procedure.

2. Jordan standards, JS893:2002 needs to be explained to farmers and site engineers to

understand what is allowed and what is not allowed.

3. A meteorological station with remote access can be an asset to the demo site and the agricultural production land at Wadi Mousa. The meteorological station can be used to broadcast weather and calculate and broadcast evapotranspiration amongst other uses

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such as soil moisture content at few locations. The station also can start a long term data collection system to perform studies on the long term sustainability of the cropped land. This station also can be provided with a web camera that can broadcast to the world what is happening in Wadi Mousa. If something like this appeals to the IALC project team, Dr. Tamimi can develop this idea further and provide specifications and cost estimates for the station since he installed and used a few of these in the Middle East.

4. Complete professional engineering designs, analysis and evaluation were never

performed prior to starting the work in the demo site. 5. Less than 10% of the 69 dunums originally proposed as a demo site were planted even

though there is enough treated effluent for irrigation. 6. To make sure that the agricultural production at Wadi Mouse is sustainable, there should

be a complete and comprehensive data gathering, design, and evaluation procedure developed. From the data and the designs a management system can be developed to make sure that the agricultural production land will be sustainable. A large amount of salts will be added to the soils. If leaching does not take place under this less than 200mm annual rainfall then the land will be salted out and will not serve the coming generations. From the study drainage systems should be considered and designed. This can be implemented in the 69 dunums demo site first and then extended to the agricultural production land. It is worthwhile mentioning here that at the Jordan Valley, farmers are using reverse osmosis systems to reduce the salts present in the irrigation water to plant banana. This shows that farmers are interested in sustaining the land and producing high quality crops.

7. An analytical study needs to be performed to find out if the amount of treated effluent

coming out of the WWTP will be enough to irrigate the 1000 dunums based on the types of crops that will be grown in the crop production area of Wadi Mousa.

3. Jordan University for Science and Technology Jordan University for Science and Technology, JUST, located in the Irbid area is the subcontractor working for PA Consulting to implement the re-use project at Wadi Hassan and at the JUST campus. During the day long visit to JUST, Dr. Tamimi visited with the following people:

1. Dr. Ziad D. Al-Ghazawi: Assistant Prof. of Environmental Engineering, Dept. of Civil Engineering Tel: 962-2-720-1000 ext. 22139 fax: 962-2-709-5123 or 709-5018 mobile: 962-79-564-2060 email: [email protected]

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2. Dr. Jumah Amayreh: Assistant Professor in Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering Tel: 962-2-709-5111 ext 22381 fax: 962-2-709-5018 email: [email protected]

3. Dr. Laith Rousan: Extension Transfer of technology, College of Agriculture Tel: 962-2-709-5111, ext. 22244 email: [email protected]

4. 4 site engineers working at the JUST wastewater reuse project The day long visit consisted of the following activities:

a. Seminar at JUST It was requested that Dr. Tamimi present a seminar at JUST and BRDP would invite the different institutions involved in the implementation of the reuse project. Dr. Tamimi presented a seminar with a question and answer session presenting the following topics:

• International Arid Land Consortium, IALC o Guiding Principles o Members o Board of Directors o Research And Demonstration Advisory Committee - RADAC o Request for Proposals, RFPs, for Fiscal Year 2004

• The Sustainable Development of Drylands in Asia and the Middle East Project: Jordan Component

o Role of the Badia Research and Development Programme, BRDP o Funding o Institutions Involved o Activities

• On Going Research at The University of Arizona o Quantification and Prediction of Pathogen Reduction In Biosolids o Subsurface Drip Irrigation for Vegetables Using Effluent in Arid Lands o The Development of a Model for the Design and Management of Subsurface Drip

Irrigation Systems.

b. Meeting With the Wastewater Re-use Pilot Project Staff A meeting was held at the office of the wastewater re-use pilot project, during which Dr. Ghazawi indicated that there was a time delay in installing the irrigation systems at the different sites due to the problem of selecting a color for irrigation pipes when treated wastewater is used. The color purple was chosen and it is becoming the standard for Jordan. Dr. Ghazawi also indicated that he is working on developing a wastewater re-use educational center in the Irbid area. Dr. Tamimi requested that Dr. Ghazawi develop the idea and send a proposal to IALC. The proposal was sent to Dr. Tamimi, who in turn reviewed it and sent to the IALC.

c. JUST Demo Site #1 The soil type at demo site #1 is mostly clay. Irbid area, where JUST is located, receives more than 500mm of rainfall annually. The weather is moderate during the summer months and cold and wet during the winter months. The Irbid area receives at least one snow storm every 2 years.

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During 2002/2003 rainfall season that extends from November to early April, Irbid area received more than 900mm of rainfall. Irrigation using treated effluent only took place after April 15. Therefore, for winter crops, none of the treated wastewater was used in irrigation. A cactus field was planted and irrigated using treated effluent under surface drip irrigation system. The cactus leaves are used for feeding sheep and cattle at the college of agriculture at JUST. Different types of fruit trees were planted and irrigated using the drip irrigation system. Wheat and barley were planted in the JUST Demo Site #1, but were irrigated only two times with treated effluent due to the fact that there was enough moisture in the soil from rainfall.

Minimal information about the JUST WWTP was provided. Better characterization of the flow is planned due to the fact that the University hospital just started operating on Campus. Dr. Ghazawi indicated that he is concerned with the disposal of chemicals in the sewage network by the Hospital and by the labs on campus. No hazardous material management plan is in place. Dr. Ghazawi is interested in getting one implemented at JUST

d. Wadi Hassan Demo Site A visit to Wadi Hassan demo site was made by Dr. Tamimi and the staff of the wastewater re-use pilot project. The location of the Wadi Hassan demonstration site is about 2 km away from Demo site #1. The weather conditions and soil types are the same as those of the JUST Demo site #1. Wadi Hassan WWTP is operated by the Water Authority of Jordan, WAJ. No staff was available to describe the processes or the quality of the effluent. A number of almond trees were planted early this year. The trees looked dry from lack of irrigation and might survive. A purple drip irrigation system similar to the one at site #1 was being used to irrigate the drying trees.

e. Comments and Remarks 1. The demo sites at JUST looked as if they are working ok. The above average rainfall of

the 2002/2003 rainfall season did not allow JUST the chance to fully investigate the affects of treated effluent on the soil and the crops. By the end of the project, December 2003, more results will be available.

2. There is no plan to market the demo site to other farmers as is the case in Wadi Mousa. It looked like the demo site is part of an academic research exercise that would end at some point or be continued with funding and management from JUST.

3. To serve the local community, JUST needs to involve the local farmers in the reuse of treated effluent in agricultural production through extension services from the College of Agriculture at JUST.

4. The IALC project can provide Jordan with safety procedures to make sure people working with treated effluent don’t catch infectious diseases. The procedures can indicate the preliminary knowledge of handling treated wastewater and crops irrigated with treated wastewater. Also vaccinations against contagious diseases can be part of the procedure.

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5. Dr. Tamimi did not see that complete professional engineering designs, analysis and evaluation were being performed prior to starting the work in the demonstration sites. Irrigation is taking place according to observations using the method of see and feel.

6. JUST is contracting the testing of effluent and the testing for pathogens in the crops irrigated with treated effluent to RSS/ERC instead of doing it themselves.

VI. Wastewater Re-use Visitor’s Center at Wadi Mousa

As a component of the treated wastewater reuse implementation project, BRDP intends to build a visitor center in Wadi Mousa. The visitor center would have the following specifications, limitations and uses:

1. The visitor center would be at least 150 m2 (1614 ft2) in area and be built as a one story building.

2. The location of the center would be adjacent to the Wadi Mousa WWTP and the WWT

reuse demo site at Wadi Mousa. The center would replace the destroyed building shown in Pic 15.

3. The center would be permanent; and local raw materials have to be used in its

construction according to the Petra Regional Authority, PRA, especially the outside masonry as shown in the masonry used in the construction of the Wadi Mousa WWTP administration building shown in Pic 16.

4. The visitor’s center would be used for training farmers and would also be used by

farmers to exhibit their agricultural products with information about each as a tool for marketing.

5. Farmers should also be able to conduct business in the center selling and buying services

and making business deals with others.

6. The center would exhibit the local culture, sites of interests, history, important events, local customs and traditions, old heritage, flora and the wild life of the area. Exhibits should use up-to-date technology as done in theme parks and visitor sites and centers in the United State.

7. A first concept has been generated by BRDP as a sketch of a floor plan and side views of

the center. Dr. Tamimi obtained a copy of this first concept which is included in this report as appendix C. This first concept can be completely changed if there is a need to do so.

8. BRDP: would like the IALC project to develop the concept further and include a new

design concept that would accommodate such activities, specifications and restrictions. The new concept of the center should include the interior design.

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9. The interior design should include facilities equipment and screens that can be operated

at the touch of the finger. The displayed information can be in the form of text, picture, audio, and/or video. The idea of displaying the info could be similar to Indian Reservations visitors’ centers that are scattered throughout the United States.

VII. Proposal Development for IALC Research and Demonstration Fund

Since Jordan’s Higher Council for Science and Technology is a member institution in the IALC, Jordanian research institutions can submit proposals for funding to the IALC research and demonstration fund. Jordan has been submitting such proposals for funding but have not been awarded any grants. To remedy this, the following was proposed:

1. Provide TEEAL to JUST and to the University of Jordan

To improve research tools and resources for JUST and the University of Jordan, the IALC project proposed the purchase of two copies of The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library, TEEAL. One copy will be placed at JUST and the second copy will be placed at the University of Jordan’s Water and Environmental Research Studies Center, WERSC. The issue was discussed in depth during many meetings with Mr. Mohammad Shahbaz from BRDP, Dr. Ziad Ghazawi from JUST and Dr. Manar Fayyad from University of Jordan. It turned out that BRDP is purchasing a copy through a different program to be place in the Safawi Field Office some 150 km from Amman. A second copy of the TEEAL was ordered by PA Consulting for the Water Authority of Jordan. The point that needed discussion was whether Jordan needs 4 copies of this software? Dr. Ghazawi and Dr. Fayyad indicated that the TEEAL would be very helpful at the two universities since there is a big cutback in the universities’ subscriptions to periodicals due to increasing cost of such periodical. Also it was argued that such a tool would be an excellent resource for faculty members to produce better research and demonstration proposals. It can also be used also by graduate students at both universities for their thesis and dissertation research. It was decided at the end that the purchase of the two copies of TEEAL to JUST and the University of Jordan would take place and the licensing agreements were given to both universities to be filled and signed.

2. Development of New Proposals with Dr. Tamimi Dr. Tamimi indicated in the many meetings he held in Jordan that he will be interested in working with any individual or individuals from one or more research institutions to develop research proposals to answer the IALC/RADAC Request for Proposals for fiscal year 2004.

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Only RSS/ERC showed interest in working with Dr. Tamimi. Two brainstorming sessions were held with different people from RSS/ERC and outlines for research proposals were written down. It is believed that these outlines will be developed further with the IALC project faculty members during the proposed technical visit that is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2003.

3. Developing Joint Proposals with IALC The RSS/ERC outline proposals that were developed with Dr. Tamimi will be developed further with the IALC project faculty members to be submitted as joint proposals to the IALC research and demonstration fund. Dr. Manar Fayyad sent electronic copies of two proposals that she would like to pursue further with the IALC project faculty members. These proposals are included in this report in appendix D.

VIII. Capacity Building

1. Technical Visit The technical visit to the U.S. was discussed during many occasions and with different people. It was indicated that a letter be sent from the IALC project director to BRDP indicating the following:

1. In cooperation with BRDP, the IALC project is proposing to hold a two-week technical visit to the USA for personnel working in the area of wastewater and bio-solids treatments and re-use from JUST, the University of Jordan, RSS/ERC, BRDP and Water Authority of Jordan.

2. The IALC project would like BRDP to invite at most 2 technical specialists in the above

mentioned specialization through a nomination from their institution. 3. The nominees have to be proficient in the English language and have to be previously

exposed to scientific research activities. 4. The nominees need to submit a Curriculum Vita, CV, indicating their education and

professional training and experience. 5. It is expected that during the Technical Visit, the participants will work with IALC

project faculty members and researchers on developing research or demonstration proposals to be submitted as a reply to the IALC/RADAC request for proposals for fiscal year 2004, due October 1, 2003.

6. The IALC project will provide the airplane tickets from Amman to Tucson to Amman. A

per diem of ( ) will be given to each participant for food and expenses and the accommodations will be arranged through the the IALC project. Expenses to obtain visas and airport tax will be also paid by the IALC project through a reimbursement system.

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7. The IALC project will provide DS2019 (formerly IAP 66) forms for each participant to

apply for a J-1 visa from the US Embassy in Amman – Jordan. 8. The topics and site visits that are proposed to be covered in the technical visit are as

follows: a. Visit the Desert Irrigation Research and Training Center b. Visit the Mesquite Valley Nursery c. Visit the Ina Road WWTP d. Visit Scottsdale Water Campus e. Visit the Avra Valley WWTP. This could include a visit to the Green Valley Site. f. Biosolids Research Activities at the Avra Valley WWTP: can consist of the

following: i. Power Point presentation describing research activities

ii. technical details including instrumentation and programming iii. discussions session iv. Discussing collaboration on future research proposals

g. Introductory lecture on Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment h. Visit Laboratories i. Specific Lecture on Anaerobic Sludge Stabilization j. Specific Lecture on Municipal WWT k. Visit with Faculty and graduate students l. Visit an anaerobic sludge digester m. Conduct field trips to water reclamation sites in Tucson: Sweetwater Recharge

Facilities (SRF) and the CERF wetlands n. Lecture on the Transformation and fate of wastewater organics and endocrine

disruptors during soil aquifer treatment and wetland treatment o. Lecture on the current and previous research on water quality and hydraulic

aspects of soil aquifer treatment at the SRF p. Lecture on installation and use of monitoring equipment for collection of

porewater samples from the vadose zone at the SRF to track water quality changes during percolation.

q. Conduct Short course on methods for detection of endocrine disruptors (estrogenic activity) in environmental samples using bioassays.

r. Laboratory instruction/exposure in Environmental Engineering It should be mentioned here that the IALC project would be issuing the DS2019 forms to the participants. United States Immigration regulations require at least 10 weeks for the visas to be issued. Since it has been proposed that the technical visit would start September 24, 2003, identifying individuals to participate in the technical visit should start as soon as possible to give ample time for the visas to be issued.

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During the discussions it was suggested that more than two staff members be nominated from each institution so as to have alternative people who would participate in case some participants are denied a visa to enter the United States.

2. Workshop on Microbial Pathogen Aspects of Wastewater and Bio-solids Re-use

A workshop on microbial pathogen aspects of treated wastewater and Biosolids was proposed and discussed in the rap up meeting held at BRDP headquarters on June 9, 2003. The proposed workshop was received with enthusiasm since it covers essential aspects of badly needed training for technicians working in the areas of bio-solids, water and wastewater. The workshop is proposed to take place sometime during October, 2003. A letter with items similar to the ones stated above in the technical visit section needs to be prepared by the staff of the IALC project and sent to BRDP to initiate the process of nominations and obtaining visas. The proposed topics for the workshop are as follows:

1) Enteric Pathogens in Sewage and Bio-solids a. Bacteria b. Viruses c. Protozoa d. Helminthes

2) Source and Concentrations of pathogens in wastewater 3) Effects of Climate, season, disease incidence 4) Removal of Pathogens by Wastewater and Bio-solid Treatment 5) Survival of Enteric Pathogens in the Environment

a. Indicator Organisms b. Of treatment c. Of health Risk d. Methods of Detection

6) Detection of Pathogens in Water, Soil, Bio-solids and Crops 7) Application of Microbial Risk Assessment to Determine Standards and Treatment 8) Treatment and Microbial Standards

a. World Health Organization b. European Economic Union c. United States

It was brought out that there should be an evaluation mechanism by the participants to measure benefits obtained from the workshops as well as the technical visits. Also, it was pointed out that all training programs, workshops, technical visits should be incentive driven, meaning that the participants would be examined and would earn credit hours that can be used towards continuing their education on the masters or the Ph.D. levels. Also a certification diploma or degree could be used.

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For planning purposes, the fasting Month of Ramadan starts this year on October 26, 2003. So one can assume no activities will take place between that time and the beginning of December 2003.

3. National Workshop on Wastewater and Bio-solids Reuse (May 2004)

The idea of an international conference on wastewater and bio-solids re-use was introduced in the rap up meeting held at BRDP on June 9, 2003. More details from that meeting are presented below under item Rap up Meeting. It was suggested that the conference term be changed to National Workshop so as to have the event include as much training and capacity building of the involved institutions as possible. The workshop would have research papers to be presented in specific issues of wastewater and bio-solids re-use. Experts from regional and international institutions would be invited to present papers and conduct training workshops in specific topics of the main theme of the workshop. The workshop would be held in Amman – Jordan in the month of May 2004. It should be mentioned that a great deal of preparation is needed to have a successful workshop. The IALC project staff in cooperation with BRDP should do all the preparation. BRDP should appoint one of their staff members to deal with issues of the workshop. The preparation should start as soon as possible but no later than the end of September. A committee should be established to better define the theme for the workshop, identify and make contacts with regional and international scholars to be invited to the workshop to do training, determine place of workshop and accommodations, and determine cost for participation and expenses for trainers and all the technical and logistical aspects of holding such a workshop. The infrastructures in governmental and semi-governmental institutions in developing countries lack the existence of facilitators and departments that handle non ordinary tasks such as conferences and workshops. One needs to remember that things take longer in developing countries than the case in the United States and hence a great deal of time for the preparation of the conference should be provided.

4. Wastewater and Bio-solids Re-use Curriculum It is the author’s belief that IALC can work with specific universities in Jordan to review their programs that are related to environment, agriculture, civil engineering and other related wastewater academic programs. The reviewers then can provide an assessment determining if these programs are meeting the wastewater and bio-solids re-use challenges facing Jordan.

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Programs then can be enhanced and/or introduced to meet the tremendous challenges Jordan is facing in regard to water resources, water resource management and the re-use of treated wastewater and bio-solids for recharging and for agriculture. In addition to complete programs, university courses in the area of reuse of treated wastewater and bios-olids should be introduced and taught at different levels and related specializations of university curriculum for awareness purposes.

IX. Rap up Meeting At the final day of Dr. Tamimi’s visit to Jordan, June 9, 2003, a rap-up meeting took place at BRDP headquarters. Table 5 shows the people who attended the meeting. These names were obtained from a sign-up sheet.

Table 5: Persons attending the rap up meeting held at BRDP Name Organization Email Address

Dr. Jamal Sawwan U of Jordan [email protected] Dr. Manar Fayyad U of Jordan [email protected] Dr. Bassam Hayek RSS/ERC [email protected] Engineer Wael Suleiman RSS/ERC [email protected] Dr. Ziad Al-Ghazawi JUST [email protected] Engineer Mohammad Shahbaz BRDP [email protected] Engineer Mohammad Al-Oun BRDP [email protected]

Dr. Tamimi gave a PowerPoint presentation based on the seminar presented at JUST but added all the activities the presentation for discussion and for finishing pending items. Dr. Tamimi requested that an ad hoc committee be formed for The Bio-solids Characterization and Application at Wadi Mousa and at Wadi Hassan, Phase I Project. It was decided that the following institutions would be members in the ad hoc committee with representatives as indicated below:

1. JUST: Dr. Ziad Ghazawi 2. U of Jordan: Dr. Mannar Al-Fayyad 3. RSS/ERC: Dr. Bassam Hayek 4. Water Authority of Jordan: Will be contacted by BRDP so as to have Dr. Saleh Malkawi

as a member 5. BRDP: Mr. Shahbaz 6. National Committee for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer, NCARTT: Will

be contacted by BRDP to nominate a representative.

It is the author’s belief that the ad hoc committee should be the seed for a bigger committee that would coordinate the different Jordanian institutions working in the area of water and the re-use of wastewater and bio-solids. This committee can provide leadership that these institutions need to improve communication, cooperation and working together.

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Dr. Tamimi requested a permanent contact person from BRDP who would be familiar with all aspects of the Sustainable Development of Drylands in Asia and the Middle East: Jordan Component Project. This person would act as a liaison for all activities that pertain to the project. BRDP representative, Mr. Mohammad Shahbaz indicated that Dr. Saad Al- Ayash would be the person. Dr. Ayyash is a recent graduate from the University of Florida with a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering: Surface Water Hydrology. His contact information is as follows: Saad Al – Ayash, Ph.D. Tel: 962-2-629-0111 Cell: 962-79-520-3625 email: [email protected] Dr. Tamimi requested Dr. Ayyash contact him to obtain all the information Dr. Tamimi gathered during his visit to Jordan to familiarize himself with the project. Dr. Ayyash should receive a copy of this report and all documentation that pertains to this project and familiarize himself with it as soon as possible.

X. Conclusion The cooperative agreement between the ALC project and USAID – Amman Mission can serve Jordan in the US-Jordan bilateral wastewater re-use implementation project in ways that were not seen before. The IALC project can provide technical support to enhance the implementation activities and can provide an excellent opportunity for Jordan to implement the re-use of treated wastewater using a scientifically analyzed sustainable methodology. Re-use of treated wastewater in agriculture can have devastating results on the soil, environment, and public health, especially in arid and semi arid regions, if implemented hastily. Appropriate data collection, analysis, design, testing, and evaluation should be done. Once these steps are completed, implementation may then proceed. Jordan suffers from scarce water resources. Treated wastewater is a valuable resource that can be used to augment fresh water use in agriculture. The increasing demand on water resources sometimes make people compromise the natural resources, the environment and public health. If this is allowed then the price will be very high for the coming generations. The IALC project should keep on providing the best technical assistance to Jordan in the area of wastewater and bio-solids re-use. The technical assistance should be a long-term process that would build a sustainable capacity for the institutions involved in the re-use issues. In addition to technical assistance, the IALC project should try to enhance communication and cooperation between the different agencies and institutions involved in the re-use issues. Bureaucracies are sometimes needed to improve accountability, but it should not hinder the progress of a project. The IALC project can help in the administration and setting up the

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logistics for activities included in the re-use project. This can be done through training and through the exposure of local staff to such techniques of communication and facilitating services. Finally, Jordan has well-educated, talented, and hard-working professionals. A need exists to manage and direct such talents in the right direction to work and build a better society.

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Appendix A

Figures

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Figure 1: ASEZA Urban Greening Master Plan

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Figure 2: ASEZA Urban Greening Master Plan: Blow up of Proposed International Airport Area

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Flow rate (m3/day)

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

1,100

1,200

1,300

1-May 7-May 13-May 19-May 25-May 31-May

Day of Week

Flow

Rat

e C

M p

er D

ay

Figure 3: Daily Influent flow rate for the Month of May, 2003 at Wadi Mousa WWTP

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Appendix B

Pictures: Pic

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Pic 1: Proposed Cactus Garden Site showing nearby urban road

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Pic 2: Proposed Cactus Garden Site showing nearby Radisson Hotel and a New Hotel under construction and existing planted palm trees. Also shown archeological diggings

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Pic 3: Another shot for the Proposed Cactus Garden Site showing more archeological diggings

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Pic 4: Proposed Cactus Garden Site showing nearby urban settings and showing land layout and soil type being sandy soil

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Pic 5: Sand filter Biosolids drying beds at the Wadi Mousa WWTP

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Pic 6: General Layout of the Wadi Mousa WWTP

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Pic 7: Proposed agricultural production land for the reuse of the treated effluent at Wadi Mouse

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Pic 8: Proposed agricultural production land for the reuse of the treated effluent at Wadi Mouse, notice soil type and texture

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Pic 9: Demo site at left of picture and the WWTP, right hand side, at Wadi Mousa

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Pic 10: Planted fraction of Demo Site at Wadi Mousa

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Pic 11: Demo site and soil erosion at Wadi Mousa

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Pic 12: Pine trees being irrigated using a hose at the demo site of Wadi Mousa

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Pic 13: Corn planted furrows and irrigated by a hose at Wadi Mousa demo site

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Pic 14: Alfalfa irrigated with treated effluent using sprinklers at Wadi Mousa demo site

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Pic 15: Site for Wadi Mousa Visitor's Center. It will replace the destroyed building shown in the top of the picture

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Pic 16: Local stones used in the construction of the Wadi Mousa WWTP. The same types of local stones have be used in Constructing the Visitor’s Center

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Appendix C

Visitor Center Concept Plans for Wadi Mousa

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Appendix D

Dr. Manar Fayyad Proposals

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XI. Watershed Management

XII.

XIII. Introduction

Jordan is one of the poorest countries in the world in water resources. Water consumption in Jordan is 82 l/c/d compared to (250-300) l/c/d for Europe and the United States (Rosegrant & Schleyer 1994). The scarcity of water resources in Jordan has coupled with the high population growth, both natural and involuntary, as a result of immigration to aggravate the problem of water shortage. Groundwater is a major source of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses in Jordan. Due to water scarcity in Jordan, it is of great importance to take all necessary management practices to protect groundwater both in terms of quantity and quality as groundwater is a main source of water for different purposes. Over the years, the quality of some aquifers has been deteriorated due to several reasons, among these reasons is overdraw, proximity to streams that receive effluents of treatment plants, and lack of appropriate management practices. As a result of population and industrial growths and agricultural land spread, demand has increased on the limited water resources in Jordan which lead to groundwater overdraw which in turn causes a dramatic drop in groundwater level of many aquifers as well as deterioration of the quality of some of these aquifers. Water level withdrawal of about 3.5 m of the Upper Aquifer at the Southern Wadi Araba Basin has occurred between 1998 and 1999, salinity has increased by 620 mg/L at Jafer Basin, nitrate concentration has also increased in the Upper Aquifer In Amman-Zarka Basin and reaches about 150 mg/L in some wells (Ministry of Water and Irrigation Annual Report, 1999). The exposure of the rocks constituting the Upper Aquifer System and the interconnection between the Alluvial Deposits in the wadi course which receives wastewater treatment plants effluents and in some cases untreated or partially treated industrial wastewater is also a major threat for deteriorating the quality of the Upper Aquifer System.

Groundwater occurs in Jordan in three major aquifer systems (Upper, Intermediate and Lower) and these aquifers are distributed in twelve main basins according to recharge discharge processes of the Upper Aquifer System (Ministry of Water and Irrigation Annual Report, 1999). These are: Yarmouk Basin, Jordan River Basin, Jordan Valley Basin, Amman-Zarka Basin, Dead Sea Basin, Disi Basin, Northern Wadi Araba Basin, Southern Wadi Araba Basin, Jafr Basin, Azraq Basin, Sirhan Basin and Hammad Basin. Amman – Zarka Basin is one of the largest groundwater Basins, its quality is threatened by the presence of Seil Zarka, which is used for the ultimate disposal of industrial wastewater from the different industries spreading along the seil. Also, the presence of the largest solidwaste disposal site at Ruseifa which serves Amman, Ruseifa and Zarka (62% of Jordan Population) is a major threat to the water quality of the Upper Aquifer System of Amman – Zarka Basin. The objectives of the proposed case study are: • studying the water quality as well as the water level fluctuations of the Upper and the Intermediate Aquifer Systems during the last three decades.

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• Creating a 3-dimensional flow and solute transport model to all aquifer systems indicating the probable interconnection between the aquifer systems and to predict the possible water quality and quantity changes as a function of water exploitation and the influence of the pollution sources scattered allover the basin. • Identify different uses of water in the basin. • Develop DSS for water use in the catchment.

1. Methodology

In order to achieve the previously mentioned objectives, a watershed within Amman-Zarka Basin will be selected, the selection depends on the groundwater quality and the environmental status of the site, data availability and proximity to pollution sources. The geology, hydrology, hydrogeology, and stratigraphy of the watershed will be studied. Possible pollution sources will be identified, sampled and analyzed for physical, chemical and biological parameters on a regular basis. Ten to fifteen wells will be selected for monthly monitoring, samples will be collected and analyzed for physical, chemical and biological parameters. Water level in the wells will also be measured with every sampling event.

Water level fluctuations and quality variations over the monitoring period and the available water level and water qualities of these wells as well as the hydraulic characteristics of the aquifers from the available pump tests will be used in the construction and calibration of the flow and solute transport model of the area to determine the sources of pollution. Additionally, future changes in water quality and quantity will be simulated. Mitigation measures to prevent further deterioration of water quality will be suggested and the selection of appropriate sites for artificial recharge will be identified to enhance natural fresh water recharge to the Upper Aquifer System.

XIV. Expected results The case study will result in identifying the geological, hydrogeological and hydrological characteristics of the selected watershed. The variation of water level of the aquifer as well as concentration of specific pollutants overtime will also be studied. Sources of pollution for the specific aquifer will also be identified. The suitability of a computer model to simulate water level as well as the concentration of some pollutants will be tested. Once the model is verified, it can be used to predict future water surface fluctuations, pollutant transfer , sources of pollution and future concentration of some pollutants.

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Planning and duration

The duration of the case-study is two years divided into four stages as follows: Selection phase: 2 months Data collection and analyses phase: 10 months Flow and Solute Transport Model phase: 10 months and Reporting phase: 2 months In the selection phase, the watershed will be selected on the basis of existing pollution and proximity to pollution sources. The wells that will be monitored will also be selected during this phase. In the data collection phase, geological, hydrogeological and hydrological data of the selected watershed will be collected. Hydraulic properties of the geologic layers will also be collected and evaluated. All selected wells will be sampled on a monthly basis and analyzed for physical, chemical and biological parameters. Identified pollution sources will be sampled and analyzed on regular basis (weekly). In the data collection and analyses phase • About 300 samples from pollution sources, • 225 groundwater samples, and • 225 water level measurements. In the next phase, the data will be evaluated and the computer simulation will be done. Reports will be submitted on regular basis, in addition, technical notes, conference papers, and peer-reviewed articles in international journals will be made. Tentative Budget for watershed management case study Selection phase

Item Collecting information (reports, data) on watersheds

Analysing information, selecting watershed & wells

30,000$ Data collection phase

Item unit Unit Price subtotal Collection and analysis of 300 stream samples 300 samples Collection and analysis of 225 groundwater samples 225 samples Collection of groundwater level data 15 events Computer model Subtotal data collection phase 160000

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Data analysis and reporting phase

Item hours local exp.

Rate E/hr.

Hours int’l exp.

Rate E/hr

Sub. Local exp.

Sub. Int’l exp. Euro

Total dollar

Data analysis and reporting phase Reporting Subtotal data analysis and reporting phase 50000 • Total Cost for the three phases 240,000 dollar

XV.

XVI. References • Ministry of Water and Irrigation Annual Report, 1999. • Rosegrant M. and Schleyer R. 1994, Tradable water rights: Experiences in reforming

water allocation policy. An applied study prepared for the Bureau of Asia and the Near East of

the U.S. Agency for International Development.

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TITLE: Reclamation of Wastewater Effluent

IALC FUNDS REQESTED: $ 100.052 [in U.S. Dollars] Maximum Total is $100,000

PROJECT DURATION: 30 [in months] Maximum Duration is 30 months.

Names & Signatures of Investigators AND

XVII. Institutional Authorities AND Israeli or Jordanian RADAC Member (when applicable)

REQUIRED: A Listing of Each Person’s ______Complete Title, Name of Institution, Address, ______Telephone, Fax Number, and Email address.

Name of Principal Investigator #1 (required) Manar K. Fayyad, Ph.D. Signature of Principal Investigator #1 (required)

Professor and Director of Water and Environment Research and Study Center University of Jordan Amman-Jordan Tel: +962-6-5355000 ext.2332 Fax: +962-6-5355560 Email: [email protected]

Name of Investigator #2 (when applicable) Jennifer G. Duan, Ph.D. Signature of Investigator #2 (required if listed)

Assistant Research Professor Division of Hydrologic Science Desert Research Institute University of Nevada System Lag Vegas, NV 89119 Tel: 702-895-0452 Fax:702-895-0427 Email: [email protected]

Name of institutional Authority of Principal Investigator #1 (required)

a. Desert Research Institute/ University of Nevada

Signature of institutional Authority of Principal Investigator #1 (required)

Name of institutional Authority of Investigator #2 (when applicable) Water and Environment Research and Study Center/University of Jordan Signature of institutional Authority of Investigator #2 (required if listed)

Name of Israeli or Jordanian RADAC Member (Required when applicable) Abdullah M. Al-Musa, Ph.D. Signature of Israeli or Jordanian RADAC Member (Required when applicable)

Academic Vice President Scientific and Medical Faculties University of Jordan The University of Jordan Street Amman-Jordan Tel: +962-6-5352500 Fax: +962-6-5355522 Email: [email protected]

Expansion of a previously funded IALC project? Yes No If Yes, IALC Project No:_________________

If yes, what is the title of existing IALC project and its funding level?

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Reclamation of Wastewater Effluent

Fayyad Manar1 and Jennifer G. Duan2

1Water and Environmental Research and Study Center

University of Jordan Amman, Jordan

P: +962-6-5355000; F: 00962-6-5355560 Email: [email protected]

2Desert Research Institute Division of Hydrologic Sciences

University of Nevada System Las Vegas, NV 89119

P: 702-895-0452: F: 702-895-0427 Email: [email protected]

Wastewater is considered as a water resource in countries suffering from water scarcity. This project aims at treating wastewater to a level suitable for unresticted irrigation. In this project two post treatment processes namely Rotating Biological Contactor and Anaerobic Filter for anaerobic effluent of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor will be studied regarding their efficiency and effectiveness for agricultural reclamation. Disinfection techniques using solar energy will be evaluated for producing an effluent suitable for unrestricted irrigation. Rotating Biological Contactor and Anaerobic Filter pilot reactors as will as disinfection system will be built at Abu-Nussier wastewater treatment plant near Amman, where an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor has already been built there. The effluent quality will by evaluated chemically and biologically. A computation model to simulate wastewater treatment processes will be developed. The model will be tested and verified using the experimental data. This project will be carried out by the Water and Environment Research and Study Center in collabaration with the Desert Research Institute.

XVIII.

XIX.

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XX.

XXI. Problem Statement In arid and semi arid region, water is the most valuable resource, it is demanded by agriculture, municipals, industry and environment. Water crisis is partly caused by the way water is managed. Worldwide, 70% of water withdrawn is allocated to irrigation and 30% to municipal and industrial uses, thus agriculture is a crucial area in future water use management. Disposing wastewater is causing serious environmental problems, as well as polluting surface and groundwater. Treating and reusing wastewater will conserve the resources and reduce their pollution. Particularly in agriculture, reuse of treated wastewater can release fresh water for higher value uses. Biological and chemical characteristics of wastewater impose serious restrictions on its use for irrigation. Type of crops to be planted, irrigation technology to be used, future effects on soil characteristics and protection of public health and environment are the main concerns associated with wastewater reuse. Anaerobic treatment process is increasingly being recognized as the essence method of advanced technology for environment protection and resource preservation (Alaerts, et al., 1993; Ballamy, et al., 1988). It is well known that anaerobic wastewater treatment systems has many advantages over the conventional aerobic methods, as it is characterized by low operational cost, energy production instead of energy consumption, applicability at any place and any scale enabling the development of community on site treatment systems. Complemented with proper post treatment it creates the possibility of integrating wastewater management with food production Many studies have proved that Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor (UASB) is a reliable and simple technology for treatment of domestic sewage (Derycke and Verstraete, 1986; Fernardes, et al., 1985). It proved to be effective in arid and semi-arid countries. The UASB has many advantages over conventional reactors: it has high removal efficiency of BOD, COD, and TSS at high loading rates and low temperature, consume less energy, produce less sludge, require little nutrients and chemicals, and is very flexible in construction (Gnanadipathy and Polprasert, 1993; Lettinga and Hulshoff, 1991). However, most types of UASB have low pathogen and nutrient removal and are likely to have bad odors due to the production of hydrogen sulphide (Singh, et al., 1997). Therefore, Post-treatment of the anaerobic effluent is generally required to reach discharge or reuse standards for organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens. Careful selection of post-treatment technology and appropriate reactor design and operation will overcome most of these disadvantages. Post treatment is mandate and of significant importance to produce effluent quality suitable for agricultural reuse. The main objective of the research presented through this proposal is to investigate the suitability of selected post treatment systems in treating anaerobically pretreated wastewater to a degree where it becomes suitable for unrestricted irrigation reuse, along with developing a computational model to simulate these processes. It is obvious that this project is among the

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IALC areas of research and development involved in water resources development and conservation. Objectives The Water and Environmental Research and Study Center (WERSC) of the University of Jordan has conducted intensively research on wastewater treatment by UASB since 1995. Their current research was funded by the Dutch government and carried out in cooperation with Wageningen University of Netherlands. Since treated wastewater effluent is considered a water resource and is considered in the water budget for reuse in Jordan, priority is given to agricultural reuse of treated effluent for unrestricted irrigation. Recently, researches have been directed into studying sustainable wastewater treatment techniques that would enable the reuse of wastewater in irrigation and perfectly suit local conditions. The objectives of this study are specified as follows. 1) Investigate the efficiency and effictiveness of two post-treatment processes; namely Rotating

Biological Contactor (RBC) as an aerobic post treatment system and Anaerobic filter (AF) as an anaerobic post treatment system for treating anaerobic effluent of UASB reactor for agricultural reclamation.

2) To fulfill the international and local standards for unrestricted irrigation, UASB/Post

treatment effluent should be subjected to a disinfection step. New disinfection technique developed in Israel, which use sunlight to promote phochemical disinfection processes will be tested.

3) Developing a computational model to simulate the two post treatment processes and

disinfection method and testing and verifying the developed model with experimetnal data. Literature Review Anaerobic treatment system is characterized by low cost and plain installations, energy production instead of energy consumption, applicability at any place and any scale and low production rate of well stabilized sludge. By combining anaerobic treatment with proper post and sometimes pre-treatment system; an ideal solution for environmental protection and resource recovery is achieved (Van Lier and Lettinga, 1999). Several studies carried out in both pilot-scale and full-scale systems have demonstrated that Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor is a reliable and simple technology for treatment of domestic sewage (Bogte et al., 1993). Anaerobic wastewater treatment basically is a mineralisation process, consequently a pre-treatment method. Post treatment methods should be applied to upgrade the treated water to reuse criteria and/or discharge limits (Van Lier and Lettinga,1999).

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The interest on anaerobic systems as the main biological step in wastewater treatment wasn’t established till the development of the Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor in the early 70s (Lettinga and VinKen, 1980). The success of the UASB concept relies on the establishment of a dense sludge bed in the bottom of the reactor, in which all biological processes take place. This sludge bed is basically formed by accumulation of incoming suspended solids and bacterial growth. In up-flow anaerobic systems, and under certain condition, it was also observed that bacteria could naturally aggregate in flocs and granules. These dense aggregates have good settling properties and are not susceptible to washout from the system under practical reactor conditions. Retention of active sludge, either granular or flocculent, within the UASB reactor enables good treatment at high organic loading rates. Natural turbulence caused by the influent flow and the biogas production provides good wastewater biomass contact in UASB systems. Higher organic loads can be applied in UASB systems than in aerobic processes. Therefore, less reactor volume and space is required while, at the same time, high grade energy is produced as biogas (Seghezzo et al., 1999). There must be a sand trap, screens for coarse material and drying beds for the sludge for wastewater treatment plant including a UASB reactor. The main objective of post treatment for UASB reactor is to complement the organic matter removal, as well as to promote the removal of components that are hardly affected by anaerobic treatment (nutrients and pathogens). Natural treatment systems such as the Waste Stabilization Ponds (WSP), Duckweed Ponds and Constructed Wetlands have been extensively studied as a polishing step of anaerobic effluent. Dixo et al. (1995) studied the ability of a series of four pilot scale shallow waste stabilization ponds to remove pathogenic organisms from the effluent of an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) digester. Fecal coliform were reduced by 4.7 log units on average in the pond series producing final effluent being suitable for unrestricted irrigation. Van Der Steen (1999) studied post treatment of UASB reactor in an integrated pond system. The system consisted of a series of shallow duckweed and stabilization ponds. The main objective of post treatment is removal of bacterial pathogens and further polishing of effluent quality in duckweed ponds. The studied system consisted of 10 ponds in series, arranged in 3 stages. The first stage consisted of 2 duckweed ponds, the second sage of 3 stabilization ponds and the third stage of 5 duckweed ponds. The system was successful in accomplishing WHO criteria of unlimited irrigation and excellent effluent quality with respect to TSS (11 mg/l). The use of polishing ponds as a post treatment option has been investigated by several other researchers; Cavalcanti et al. (2000), El-Gohary et al. (1998) and Hanqing et al. (1997). In contrast to conventional waste stabilisation ponds used for raw sewage treatment and designed to remove (stabilize) organic material, the main objective of treatment of digested sewage in pollishing ponds is to remove pathogens. The residual BOD and SS concentrations in digested sewage can be removed in a short period (3 to 5 days). Helminth eggs can also be removed during this period, but coliforms require a longer time. Cavalcanti et al. (2000) showed that coliform decay is a first order process, but the required retentions time for satisfactory coliform removal (usually 99.99% or 4 log units) depends very strongly on the mixing intensity in the pond. Von Sperling (1999) showed that the mixing intensity in flow trhough ponds is never very

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low even if these are especially designed to induce plug flow. The maximum decay rate (exponential decay) can only be obtained in ponds operated as sequential batch units. The required retention time in a batch unit is a function of the depth since the decay constant is approximately inversely proportional to the depth. In shallow (0.65 m deep) Sequential batch ponds an effluent quality for unrestricted irrigation (<1000 FC/100 ml) can be obtained in 4 to 5 days. In flow through ponds the required retention time is at least twice this value (8 to 10 days). In comparison the retention time in convetional waste stabilisation ponds is in the range of 20 to 30 days. The feasibility of using constructed wetland for the post treatment of anaerobic effluents has been investigated by Sousa et al. (2000), the results showed that average COD removal efficiencies in the range of 79 to 85%, suspended solids in the range of 48 to 71% and fecal coliforms around 4 log- units. Phosphorus was also efficiently removed (average of 90% for the lowest hydraulic load) but nitrogen removal was only partial (45 to 70% for ammonia and 47 to 70% for TKN). Other soil/plant systems have been studied as post treatment of anaerobic effluent; rapid infiltration units, overland flow systems and subsuperficial irrigation system. Chernicharo and Machado (1998) studied upgrading UASB effluent by two anaerobic filters (AF) operating in parallel (up-flow and down-flow modes). The UASB/AF system produced very good results in terms of COD and BOD removal, and also very low solids concentration in the final effluent. The average results of COD and BOD removal varied from 85 to 95%, sufficient to maintain the COD concentration in the final effluent in the range of 60 to 90mg/l and the BOD values below 40mg/l. The overall averages of SS in the final effluent were kept below 25mg/l. these results showed that UASB/AF system could become a very promising alternative for the treatment of domestic sewage in developing countries, since the system can be designed at very short hydraulic retention times, resulting in a very compact and low cost treatment unit. Besides there is no energy consumption and the labor cost are minimum. Tawfik et al. (2000) studied the performance of three stage RBC for removal of E.Coli, COD particles and ammonia from anaerobically pre-treated domestic sewage. The results obtained indicated that a three stage RBC system operated at a HRT of 3.0 h and at an organic loading rate of 5.3 gCOD.m-2.d-1, represents an effective and alternative post treatment process. The remaining COD in the final effluent only amounted to 51mg/l. The calculated overall removal of ammonia was 67%. The overall E.Coli reduction was 1.39 log at influent 6.5log corresponding an overall removal percentage of 95.8%. As the concentration of E.Coli then according prevailing standards still is high for reuse for unlimited irriation purposes. The system was operated at hydraulic retention of 10h. this resulted in an overall E.Coli and ammonia removal of 99.9% and 92% respectively. Sousa and Forest (1996) studied the Sequence Batch Reactor (SBR) as a post treatment process for UASB effluent. The combination was efficient in removing COD (95%), TSS (96%) and TKN (85%). The excess sludge production was approximately 4% of the total influent COD, which is significantly lower than that expected from most aerobic and anaerobic systems. The study showed that the low energy consumption for aeration and the low excess sludge production besides the efficient performance are important factor to regard UASB/SBR system as an important alternative for sewage treatment in tropical regions.

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Machdar et al. (1997) and (2000) studied the combination of UASB pre-treatment and Down-flow Hanging Sponge reactor as aerobic post treatment unit both in lab and pilot scale. The combined system performed an excellent organic removal as well as a fairly efficient nitrification. The system possesses two advantages; it doesn’t required external aeration input nor excess sludge withdrawal. Asher et al. (1997) investigated new disinfection technique, which use sunlight or artificial UV radiation to promoter photochemical disinfection processes. The sunlight was either used as global irradiation or concentrated by mirrors via an intermediary photosensitized dissolved in water (methylene blue, MB). Under these conditions the sunlight produces oxidative species in water, which kill the microorganisms and oxidize organic materials. The disinfection efficiency of these methods has been proven in two experimental pilot plants operating in a continues process with outputs of 50 and 0.15 m3.h-1, and retention time of 35 min and 3s, respectively.

i) Tasks and Methods Task 1. Experimental study on the efficiency of RBC and AF for the effluent of UASB reactor. Water and Environment Research and Study Center has been engaged since 1995 in a project aims at studying the application and accommodation of UASB to direct treatment of sewage in Jordan. The next step is to study post treatment processes, namely; Anaerobic filter (AF) and Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC), that are applicable to the UASB system.

II.

V

V

Figure1: Proposed Scenario of UASB post treatment research

1. Anaer

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The proposed scenarios encompass two systems; Anaerobic-aerobic system that is represented by the UASB/RBC and complete anaerobic system represented by the UASB/AF system. Recent studies have proved that combined anaerobic-aerobic system present an excellent performance in the removal of COD and TSS. The results also indicate that such combined anaerobic-aerobic systems accommodate favorably with conventional aerobic systems in three essentials cost features: energy consumption, excess sludge production and nutrient removal. Other studies also showed that the UASB/AF system produced very good results in terms of COD, BOD and solids removal. The system represents a compact and low-cost treatment unit, with no energy consumption and minimum labor cost, which makes it very attractive to be used. Task 2. Testing the effectiveness of photochemical disinfection technique, which use sunlight and Methylene blue as intermediary photosensitizer. This method will be developed for disinfection of UASB/post treatment effluents designated for unrestricted irrigation. Task 1 and 2 will be conducted at the Water and Environment Research and Study Center/University of Jordan. Task 3. Developing computational model to simulation Rotating Biological Contactor and Anaerobic Filter as post treatment processes of anaerobically pre-treated effluent. This task will be carried out at the Desert Research Institute.

(a)

(b) Methodology and Experimental Design In Jordan the experiments will be conducted at Abu-Nussier wastewater treatment plant. This plant consist of an equalization tank, mechanical screens, grit chamber, RBC, extended aeration tank, secondary settling tank, chlorination tank and sludge thickening. The design capacity is 400m3/d, organic and solids load for the year 1999 was 895 and 848 Kg/d respectively. The plant is working within its design capacity, with biological efficiency of 97%. Abu-Nussier WWTP serve 17,000 people. The total area of the plant is approximately 22,000 sq-km. The following experimental studies will be carried out in the WERSC. 1) Pilot scale Rotaing Biological Contactor (RBC) and Anaerobic Filter (AF) will be tested for treating anaerobically pre treated wastewater in a 1.5m3 single stage UASB reactor installed in Abu-Nussier wastewater treatment plant after the screens and grit chamber. The two systems will work in parrallel followed by Photochemical disinfection unit. 2) The performance of a three stage RBC will be evaluated under summer and winter conditions. The RBC will be evaluated for E. Coli, COD removal and nitrification rate under different hydraulic retention times were be experimentally determined. 3) Upflow mode Anaerobic Filter will be studied under different Hydraulic Detention Time (HRT). Both COD and SS will be measured in these experiments.

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4) Photochemical disinfection system developed by A.Acher et al. (REF) in Israel will be studied. Effect of hydraulic loading, dissolve oxygen level, Methylene blue concentration, Ph range and resident time will be studied.

(c) 5) Development of software for simulation of RBC and AF as post treatment of UASB effluent. 6)

(a) Project Time Table

Task Year 1 months 1-12 Year 2 months 13-24 Year 3 months 25-30 Partner

1) Experimental study on the efficiency of RBC and AF for the effluent of UASB reactor.

WERSC

2) Testing photochemical disinfiction method for UASB/Post treatment effluent.

WERSC

3) Developing and testing simulation model for RBC and AF.

DRI

RBC

AF Disinfection

Disinfection

Figure 2. Diagram of the proposed post-treatment processes

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(b)

(c)

(d) Investigators Institutional Support Water and Environment Research and Study Center is an independent research center at the University of Jordan. The center directs its activities to irrigation management, wastewater treatment and reuse, water hydrology, water conservation in arid areas, water quality, water harvesting and artificial recharge. The center has a well-equipped water and environment laboratory, fitted with advanced scientific equipment capable of carrying out sensitive physical, chemical and biological analyses. Since it’s inception the center has carried out several research projects and studies shedding the light on some of water and environmental problems in Jordan. It’s also involved in organizing conferences, technical workshops and coursed related to environment and water issues. This research will be conducted at the Hydrologic Science Division of the Desert Research Institute (DRI), University and Community College System of Nevada and the Water and Environment Research and Study Center, University of Jordan. DRI was created in 1959 by an act of the Nevada Legislature as part of the University of Nevada. When the University of Nevada System was formed in 1968, the Desert Research Institute became an autonomous, nonprofit division of the University and Community College System. Over its 40-year history, DRI has grown to be one of the world's largest multidisciplinary environmental research organizations. DRI research focuses on the fundamentals of water resources, air quality, global climate change and the physics of the earth's turbulent atmosphere as well as developing innovative environmental technology of the next century. DRI pursues a full-time program of basic and applied environmental research on a local, national, and international scale. DRI's nearly 400 full- and part-time scientists, technicians, and support personnel conduct some 140-research projects annually. DRI's Division of Hydrologic Sciences (DHS) is the largest water research group in the United States focused on more effective management of hydrologic resources on arid lands. The DHS division conducts groundwater contaminant research and has pioneered techniques for detection and monitoring of organic substances in groundwater systems. DHS maintains state-of-the-art water quality and water age-dating laboratories, and the application of remote sensing techniques to gather and interpret surface hydrologic indicators such as soil moisture and snow-pack water content. Chemical and isotopic analysis is also being applied to this program.

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(d) Potential Contributions This research is a collaborative project between the Division of Hydrological Sciences of DRI and the Water and Environmental Research and Study Center at the University of Jordan. The research results from this project will be published in scientific journals and conference proceedings. The anticipated topics of the papers are as follows.

• Post treatment of effluent from anaerobic (UASB) reactor by rotating biological contactor.

• Feasibility of anaerobic filter as post treatment process of UASB effluent. • Sunlight disinfections of domestic sewage for agricultural reuse.

(i)

Title: The Sail-Op project on Capacity Building on Wastewater Valorization for Agricultural Production in the Middle East Area by Using Low-Cost Treatment Technologies. Investigator’s Name:

• Water and Environment Research and Study Center (WERSC) University of Jordan, • Wageningen University/Netherlands, • Bier Zeit University/Palestine and • The National Research Center (NRC)/Egypt.

Funding Institution: Government of the Netherlands. Fiscal Contribution (in U.S. Dollars): 57,000 Inclusive Dates of Funded Research: starting at 1997 for four

years, extended to 2004.

Details of Funded Research: This project aims at studying the operation and application of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket as a low cost wastewater treatment unit in Jordan. For the UASB effluent to be reused in irrigation, it should undergo post treatment and that’s what we aim at through this proposal

Current Funded Research/WERSC

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Title: WAM-ME Water Resources Management Under Drought Conditions: Criteria and Tools for Conjunctive use

of Conventional and Marginal Waters in Mediterranean Regions. Investigator’s Name:

• IIIGA, Institute of hydraulics, hydrology and water resources management, University of Catania, Catania, Italy,

• CINSA, Centro Interdisciplinary Studi Ambientali, Cagliari, Italy, • UPV, Departmento de Ingeniria Hidraulica Medio Ambiente, Univerrsidad Politecnia de Valencia,

Valencia, Spain,

• WDD, Water Development Department, Nicosia, Cyprus, • RIGW, Research Institute for Groundwater, El Kanater El Khairiya, Egypt and • WERSC, Water and Environment Research and Study Center, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Funding Institution: European Union (EU) through INCO-MED initiative Fiscal Contribution (in U.S. Dollars): 25,000 Inclusive Dates of Funded Research: starting at the year

2000 for two years.

Title: Development of Cost-Effective Reclamation for Domestic Wastewater and the Appropriate Agricultural Use of Treated Effluent Under Semi-arid Climate Conditions (CORETECH). Investigator’s Name:

• Wageningen Agricultural University (WAU)/ The Netherlands, • Water and Environment Research and Study Center (WERSC)/ University of Jordan, • Birzeit University (BZU)/ Palestine, • National Research Center (NRC)/ Egypt and • National Foundation for Agricultural Research (NFAR)/ Greece, and National University of Ireland (NUIG)/

Galway. Funding Institution: European Union (EU) through INCO-MED initiative Fiscal Contribution (in U.S. Dollars): 45,000 Inclusive Dates of Funded Research: starting at the year

1999 for three years.

Details of Funded Research: This project aims at

• Developing and designing of water distribution methods and irrigation techniques in relation to crop cultivation, and

• To assess improved methods for the identification and enumeration of various kinds of pathogenic organisms in treated effluent, crops and soils.

The center is interested in applying the results of this research on the effluent generated from UASB/Post treatment system.

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Details of Funded Research: This projects aimed at increasing the scientific background and developing technological tools for improving water resources management and environmental control drought-prone Mediterranean regions, addressing the exigency of integrated water management and environmental protection.

Title: Skills Enhancement and Support to Decision-Makers in Jordan’s Water Sector. Investigator’s Name:

• Washington State University (WSU)/ USA, • Purdue University/ USA, • University of Jordan, Water and Environment Research and Study Center (WERSC), • Jordan University for Science and Technology (JUST) and • Hashemite University (HU).

Funding Institution: United States Agency for International development (USAID) Fiscal Contribution (in U.S. Dollars): 180,000 Inclusive Dates of Funded Research: starting at

March,2000 for two years.

Details of Funded Research: The objectives of this project are to enhance the skills of decision-makers of the Ministry of Water

and Irrigation (MWI), Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), and Jordan Valley Authority (JVA). The project involves 18 training courses related to water quality, water resources management, water and wastewater treatment, wastewater reuse in agriculture, irrigation management and others. Some of these courses are held in Jordan and some are held in the United States. For detailed information about these courses please see training courses.

Title: Zara and Zarqa Ma’in springs study (this project is part of the Skills Enhancement and Support to Decision-Makers in Jordan’s Water Sector). Investigator’s Name:

• Washington State University (WSU)/ USA and • Water and Environment Research and Study Center (WERSC)/ University of Jordan.

Funding Institution: United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Fiscal Contribution (in U.S. Dollars): 50,000 Inclusive Dates of Funded Research: starting at the year

2000 for one year.

Details of Funded Research: This project aims at studying the quality and the quantity of the springs at Zara and Zarqa-Ma’in area and at investigating the suitability of the spring’s water for human consumption and other uses.

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Title: Fate of Disinfectants and Their Byproducts in Amman’s Water Distribution System. Investigator’s Name: Water and Environment Research and Study Center (WERSC)/ University of Jordan

XXII. Funding Institution: The Higher Council for Science and Technology/Jordan Fiscal Contribution (in U.S. Dollars): 15,000 Inclusive Dates of Funded Research: starting at the year

2000 fir two years.

Details of Funded Research: This project aims at studying:

• Decay of chlorine in part of Amman water supply system. • Formation and propagation of disinfection byproducts like Trihalomethans in Amman water supply system.

Title: The Effect of Pesticides on the Environment ( Water, Soil, and Dams sediments) Investigator’s Name: Water and Environment Research and Study Center (WERSC)/ University of Jordan

Funding Institution: The General Corporation for Environment Protection (GCEP)/Jordan Fiscal Contribution (in U.S. Dollars): 16,000 Inclusive Dates of Funded Research: starting at the year

2000 for one year.

Details of Funded Research: The project aims at:

• Evaluating soil and surface water pollution in the Jordan Valley by organo-chlorine pesticides, • Evaluating Azraq water pollution by organochlorine pesticides, • Investigating the presence of organochlorine pesticides in Zai treatment plant effluent and Dabouq reservoir.

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(ii) Qualifications of P.I.s The principal investigator, Dr. Fayyad, is the director of the Water and Environmental Research and Study Center at the University of Jordan. She is a professor of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Jordan since 1978 to present. Her specialization is in Analytical Chemistry and Water Quality. Her research interests lie in the areas of water quality, environment pollution, and monitoring studies in the field of water, and soil, and wastewater treatment and reuse. Dr. Fayyad has been involved in preparation and execution of Water and Environment related projects funded by international agencies including UNDP, US-AID, and EU. She has been working as water quality specialist on the study “Irrigation Management and Water Quality in the Central Jordan Valley”, phase I and II supported by Irrigation Support Project for Asia and Near East and Development Alternatives Inc. She was also the Water Quality specialist for the “ Azraq Oasis Conservation Project/ Water Management Component funded by the UNLP. She is also a member in the higher committee for Water Quality in Jordan. Dr. Fayyad is a member in the “ National Selection Committee” for Global Environmental Facility Projects (small grants program) in Jordan for the last seven years. Some of the scientific publications related to the project: Fayyad M., Oran S., Shatanawi M. Use of Duckweed for Wastewater Treatment of Khirbet As-

samra/ Jordan. Conference on “Options for Closed Water Systems”, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 1998.

Al-Nakshabandi G., Saqqar M., Shatanawi M, Fayyad M, Al-Horani H. Some Environmental Problems Associated with the Use of Treated Wastewater for Irrigation in Jordan. Agricultural Water Management, 34, 81-94,1996 Shatanawi. M, Fayyad. M. Effect of Khirbet As- Samra treated effluent on the quality of

irrigation water in the central Jordan Valley. Water Research, Vol. 30, No. 12, 2915- 2920, 1996.

Shatanawi. M, Nakshabandi. G, Fayyad. M, Horani. H, and Saqqar. M. Experimental field

studies on the use of As-Samra treated wastewater for irrigation in Jordan- Phase I. Abhath Al- Yarmouk, 5, 197, 1996.

Wendy Saunders, Grietje Zeeman, Rashed Al-Sa’ed, Manar Fayyad, Ghada Kassab, Andreas Angelakis, Fatma ElGohary, and Jules van Lier, Development of Cost-effective reclamation technologies for domestic wastewater and the Appropriate use of the treated effluent under semi arid conditions, Inco-Med Water Conference, Amman,June,2001.

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Ernst-Jan Martjin, Frans Huibers, Manar Fayyad, Ghada Kassab, Andreas Angelakis, and Jules van Lier, Appropriate agricultural use of treated effluent under semi-arid climate conditions, Inco-Med Water Conference, Amman, June,2001. The Co-PI, Dr. Duan, has conducted research in water resources engineering for almost 10 years. Currently, she is the principal investigator for two projects entitled “Investigation and Simulation of Stream bank Erosion Processes in the Upper Jordan River, Utah” and “Modeling Flow and Sediment Transport in Kankakee River, Illinois”, which are funded by the Army Research Office and the Army Corps of Engineers, respectively. The Corps of Engineers including the Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC), Waterways Experiment Station (WES) and the Sacramento and Rock Island District sponsored both projects. She has more than 15 publications in academic journals and conference proceedings. She has been practicing civil engineering at the State of Nevada since 1999 and is expecting to receive Professional Engineer (PE) license from the Nevada State Board of Professional Engineers at the end of 2001. Her professional engineering experience and close cooperation with the CCSD will ensure the successful completion of this project. References: Alaerts, G.J., Veenstra, S., Bentvelsen, M. & van Duijl, L.A. (1993). Feasibility of anaerobic sewage treatment in sanitation strategies in developing countries. Water Science and technology, 27(1), 179-186. Asher, A., Fischer, E., Turnheim, R., Manor, Y. (1997). Ecologically friendly wastewater disinfection techniques, Wat. Res. Vol. 31, No. 6, PP.1398-1404. Bellamy, D., Wheatley, B.I., Bassel, A., Ghazi & Gamal El Din, H. (1988) An evaluation of the use of anaerobic digestion on a sewage works in Egypt. Fifth International Syposium on Anaerobic Digestion, Bologna, Italy, Eds A. Tilche A&A Rozzi, pp721-724. Bogte, J., Breure, A., Van Andel, j., Lettings, G. (1993). Anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater in small scale UASB reactors, Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol.27, No. 9, PP.75-82. Cavalcanti, P., Van Haande, A., Lettinga G. (2000). Polisheng ponds for post-treatment of digested sewage. Part 1: Flow through ponds. In: Proc. VI Latin-American Workshop and Seminar on Anaerobic Digestion. PP. 384-391. Chernicharo, C., Machado, R. (1998). Feasibility of the UASB/AF system for domestic sewage treatment in developing countries, Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol. 38, No. 8-9, PP. 325-332. Department of Water Resources, 1983. California water plan: Projected use and available water supplies to 2010. Bulletin 160-83. Department of Water Resources. Sacramento, California.

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Derycke, D. and Verstraete, W. 91986) Anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater in a lab and pilot scale polyurethane carrier reactor. In Anaerobic treatment. A grown-up technology. Conference papers, pp. 437-450, Amsterdam. Dixo, N., Gambrill, M., Catunda, P., Van Haandel, A., (1995). Removal of pathogenic organisms from the effluent of an upflow anaerobic digester using waste stabilization ponds, Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol. 31, No. 12, PP. 275-284. El-Gohary, F., Naser, F., Wahaab, R. (1998). Integrated low cost wastewater treatment for reuse in irrigation. Advanced Wastewater Treatment Recycling and Reuse 2nd International Conference. Resources and Environment: Priorities and Challenges. Fiera Milano,14-16. September. Fernandes, X.A., Cantwell, A.D. & Mosey, F.E. (1985). Anaerobic biological treatment of sewage, Water Pollution Control, 84, 99-110. Gnanadipathy, A. and Polprasert, C. (1993). Treatment of domestic wastewater with UASB reactors. Water Science and Technology, 27 91), 195-203. Hanqing, Yu., Hwatay, J., Wilson, F. (1997). A sustainable municipal wastewater tratment process for tropical and subtropical regions in developing countries, Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol. 35, No. 9, PP. 191-198. Lettinga, G., Vinken, J. (1980), Feasibility of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) process for the treatment of low strength wastes. 35th Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings, PP. 625-634. Lettinga, G. and Hulshoff Pol, L.W. (1991). UASB-process design for various types of wastewaters. Water Science and Technology, 24(8), 87-107. Singh, K.S., Viraraghavan, T., Karthikeyan, S. & Caldwell, D.E. (1997) Low temperature start-up of UASB reactors for municipal wastewater treatment. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Anaerobic Digestion, Sendai, Japan, Vol.3, pp.192-195. Sousa, J., Van Haandel, A., Guimaraes A. (2000). Post treatment of anaerobic effluents in constructed wetland system. In: Proc. VI Lating-American Workshop and seminar on Anaerobic Digestion, pp. 314-320. Sousa, J., Foresti, E. (1996). Domestic sewage treatment in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket- sequencing batch reactor system, Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol.33, No. 3, PP. 73-84. Tawfiq, A., Klapwijk, B., El-Gohary, F., Letting, G. (2001). Post treatment of effluent from anaerobic (UASB) reactor treating domestic sewage by rotating biological contactor, Anaerobic Digestion World Congress.

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Van Lier, J., Lettinga, G. (1999). Appropriate technology for effective management of industrial and domestic wasted waters: the decentralized approach, Wat Sci. Tech. Vol.40, No. 7, PP. 171-183. Van Der Steen, P., Brenner, A., Van Buuren, J., Oron, G. (1999). Post treatment of UASB reactor effluent in an integrated duckweed and stabilization pond system, Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol.33, No.3, PP. 615-620.

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