Your search found 6 records
1 Abi Saab, M. T.; Jomaa, I.; El Hage, R.; Skaf, S.; Fahed, S.; Rizk, Z.; Massaad, R.; Romanos, D.; Khairallah, Y.; Azzi, V.; Sleiman, R.; Abi Saad, R.; Hajjar, C.; Sellami, M. H.; Aziz, R.; Sfeir, R.; Nassif, Marie Helene; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier. 2022. Are fresh water and reclaimed water safe for vegetable irrigation? Empirical evidence from Lebanon. Water, 14(9):1437. (Special issue: Section Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: Feature Papers) [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/w14091437]
Wastewater irrigation ; Water reuse ; Vegetable crops ; Freshwater ; Health hazards ; Risk assessment ; Water pollution ; Water management ; Reclaimed water ; Groundwater ; River water ; Water quality ; Contamination ; Crop yield ; Mineral content ; Bioaccumulation factor ; Physicochemical properties ; Microbiological analysis ; Pathogens ; Heavy metals ; Soil properties ; Irrigation methods / Middle East / North Africa / Lebanon / Bekaa Valley / Litani River / Ablah
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051092)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/9/1437/pdf?version=1651834841
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051092.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H051092.pdf
(1.41 MB) (1.41 MB)
The use of polluted water to irrigate is an increasing problem in the developing world. Lebanon is a case in point, with heavily polluted irrigation waters, particularly in the Litani River Basin. This study evaluated the potential health risks of irrigating vegetables (radishes, parsley, onions, and lettuce) using three water sources (groundwater, river water, and treated wastewater) and three irrigation methods (drip, sprinkler, and surface) over two growing seasons in 2019 and 2020. Water, crop, and soil samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, pathogens, and metals (Cu, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Zn). In addition, the bioaccumulation factor, estimated dietary intakes, health risk index, and target hazard quotients were calculated to assess the health risk associated with metal contamination. The study showed that, for water with less than 2 log E. coli CFU/100 mL, no pathogens (Escherichia coli, salmonella, parasite eggs) were detected in irrigated vegetables, irrespective of the irrigation method. With over 2 log E. coli CFU/100 mL in the water, 8.33% of the sprinkler-and surface-irrigated vegetables, and 2.78% of the drip-irrigated root crops (radishes and onions), showed some degree of parasitic contamination. E. coli appeared only on root crops when irrigated with water having over 3 log CFU/100 mL. The concentrations of most metals were significantly lower than the safe limits of the FAO/WHO of the Food Standards Programme Codex, except for zinc and chromium. The trends in the bioaccumulation factor and the estimated dietary intakes of metals were in the order of Cu < Cd < Ni < Cr < Zn. The target hazard quotient values for all metals were lower than 1.0. Under trial conditions, the adoption of drip irrigation with water with less than 3 log E. coli CFU/100 mL proved to be safe, even for vegetables consumed raw, except for root crops such as onions and radishes that should not be irrigated with water having over 2 log E. coli CFU/100 mL. Treated wastewater had no adverse effect on vegetable quality compared to vegetables irrigated with other water sources. These results support efforts to update the Lebanese standards for water reuse in agriculture; standards proposed in 2011 by the FAO, and currently being reviewed by the Lebanese Institution of Standards. This research will inform a sustainable water management policy aimed at protecting the Litani River watershed by monitoring water quality.
2 Eid-Sabbagh, K.; Roukoz, S.; Nassif, Marie-Helene; Velpuri, Naga; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier. 2022. Analysis of water reuse potential for irrigation in Lebanon. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 145p. (IWMI Research Report 181) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.211]
Water reuse ; Water potential ; Irrigation water ; Analysis ; Wastewater treatment plants ; Municipal wastewater ; Databases ; Modelling ; Geographical information systems ; Water resources ; Water management ; Water budget ; Water balance ; Supply and demand ; Water demand ; Water governance ; Water rights ; Water availability ; Water use ; Water shortage ; Irrigation requirements ; Infrastructure ; Groundwater ; Water supply ; Wells ; Water quality ; Regulations ; Parameters ; Domestic water ; Agricultural land ; Irrigation systems ; Water authorities ; Stakeholders ; Non-governmental organizations ; Economic crises ; Financial situation ; Case studies / Lebanon / Ablah Wastewater Treatment Plant / Zahleh Wastewater Treatment Plant / Aintourine Wastewater Treatment Plant / Ijbaa Wastewater Treatment Plant / Chabriha/Sour Wastewater Treatment Plant / Hammana Wastewater Treatment Plant / Iaat Wastewater Treatment Plant / Yammouneh Wastewater Treatment Plant
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H051388)
(7.07 MB)
Water scarcity and pollution are major threats for human development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and Lebanon is no exception. Wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture can contribute to addressing the increasing water crisis in the MENA region. However, what is the actual potential of water reuse as a solution for agriculture in Lebanon? This report addresses this question and provides the most comprehensive assessment of water reuse potential up to now. Using geographic information system (GIS) modelling and the best and most recent data available in the country, the report develops a detailed technical assessment of the quantities of treated water available for safe reuse in irrigation, and identifies the wastewater treatment plants that have the highest potential for that purpose.
The report also examines the governance barriers that need to be overcome for the water reuse potential to materialize in practice. These barriers include structural shortcomings in the wastewater sector combined with challenges of governance and the lack of a regulatory framework for reuse management. Once the current economic, financial and political crisis in Lebanon eases, addressing these barriers will be key to achieving more and safer water reuse in the country.
The report also examines the governance barriers that need to be overcome for the water reuse potential to materialize in practice. These barriers include structural shortcomings in the wastewater sector combined with challenges of governance and the lack of a regulatory framework for reuse management. Once the current economic, financial and political crisis in Lebanon eases, addressing these barriers will be key to achieving more and safer water reuse in the country.
3 Tawfik, Mohamed; Nassif, Marie-Helene; Mahjoub, O.; Mahmoud, A. E. D.; Kassab, G.; Alomair, M.; Hoogesteger, J. 2022. Water reuse policy and institutional development in MENA: case studies from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. In Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Al-Hamdi, M.; AbuZeid, K. (Eds.). Water reuse in the Middle East and North Africa: a sourcebook. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). pp.43-62.
Water reuse ; Water policies ; Institutional development ; Case studies ; Wastewater treatment ; Infrastructure ; Water resources ; Government ; Regulations ; Monitoring / Middle East / North Africa / Egypt / Jordan / Lebanon / Saudi Arabia / Tunisia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051738)
(448 KB)
4 Nassif, Marie-Helene; Tawfik, Mohamed; Abi Saab, M. T. 2022. Water quality standards and regulations for agricultural water reuse in MENA: from international guidelines to country practices. In Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Al-Hamdi, M.; AbuZeid, K. (Eds.). Water reuse in the Middle East and North Africa: a sourcebook. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). pp.79-105.
Water reuse ; Agricultural water use ; Water quality standards ; Regulations ; Guidelines ; Policies ; Irrigation water ; Wastewater ; Physicochemical properties ; Risk management / Middle East / North Africa / Egypt / Lebanon / Morocco / Jordan / Tunisia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051740)
(464 KB)
5 Nassif, Marie-Helene; Tawfik, Mohamed. 2022. Toward a more harmonious planning and governance of agricultural water reuse: guidelines, practices and obstacles. In Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Al-Hamdi, M.; AbuZeid, K. (Eds.). Water reuse in the Middle East and North Africa: a sourcebook. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). pp.156-171.
Water reuse ; Agricultural water use ; Planning ; Water governance ; Guidelines ; Multi-stakeholder processes ; Regulations ; Institutions ; Cost recovery ; Water rights ; Wastewater ; Political aspects / Middle East / North Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051744)
(326 KB)
6 Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Nassif, Marie Helene; Tawfik, Mohamed; Gebrezgabher, Solomie; Mapedza, Everisto; Lahham, Nisreen; Al-Hamdi, M. 2023. Expanding water reuse in the Middle East and North Africa: policy report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 18p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2023.203]
Water reuse ; Water resources ; Water availability ; Water scarcity ; Wastewater treatment ; Municipal wastewater ; Resource recovery ; Water policies ; Water governance ; Planning ; Guidelines ; Irrigation water ; Agricultural water use ; Water quality standards ; Health hazards ; Sustainability ; Financing ; Cost recovery ; Business models ; Stakeholders ; Gender-transformative approaches ; Women ; Social aspects / Middle East / North Africa / Algeria / Bahrain / Egypt / Iraq / Jordan / Kuwait / Lebanon / Libya / Mauritania / Morocco / Oman / Palestine / Qatar / Saudi Arabia / Sudan / Syrian Arab Republic / Tunisia / United Arab Emirates / Yemen
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051838)
(5.90 MB)
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