A step towards decentralized wastewater management in the Lower Jordan Rift Valley.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Water Resource Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Jordan faces critical public health, water scarcity, and groundwater pollution issues.
• The Jordanian government's "Water Strategy 2009-2022" prioritizes decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse (DWWT&R) for small communities.
• Existing central sewer systems in the study area serve 67% of the population (75% urban, 5% rural).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential for implementing decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse (DWWT&R) systems in the Lower Jordan Rift Valley.
• To assess current and future wastewater treatment needs in both rural and urban sectors of the study area.
• To identify regions most suitable for DWWT&R implementation.

Main Methods:

• Calculation of sewer connection degrees for rural and urban sectors.
• Estimation of annual wastewater production and future needs for rural and urban areas.
• Development of a potential map for DWWT&R systems based on stakeholder input and infrastructure analysis.

Main Results:

• The rural sector had approximately 3.8 million m³ of wastewater available for DWWT&R in 2007, with a projected increase of 0.11 million m³ per year.
• The urban sector had an estimated 25 million m³ of wastewater available in 2007, with a projected increase of 0.12 million population equivalents per year.
• Three distinct regions were identified, with Region 3 showing the highest potential for DWWT&R system implementation.

Conclusions:

• Decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse (DWWT&R) systems present a viable solution for addressing water challenges in Jordan.
• The study provides a framework for strategic implementation of DWWT&R, particularly in areas lacking central infrastructure.
• Targeted application of DWWT&R can significantly contribute to improved public health and water resource management in the Lower Jordan Rift Valley.