Evaluating greywater reuse potential for sustainable water resources management in Oman

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the potential of greywater availability in Muscat Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman, to establish a methodology for greywater quantity estimation, to test greywater quality in order to assess reuse potential, and to examine public acceptance for reuse.Total fresh water consumption and greywater generation from different household sources were measured by water meters in five selected households during summer and winter. Additionally, a survey was designed and conducted in five administrative areas of Muscat Governorate, with the objective of testing a methodology for estimating greywater generation potential in these areas. Collected data were compared with that used by the Ministry of Housing, Electricity and Water, Sultanate of Oman. The survey covered a total of 169 houses and 1,365 people. Greywater samples were collected and analyzed from showers, laundries, kitchens and sinks in some of these households to determine their water quality parameters. Statistical analysis results indicated that there is no significant variance in the total fresh water consumption between data used by the ministry and those measured and estimated during this study, highlighting the applicability of the tested method. The study concluded that the average per capita greywater generation rate is 151 Lpcd. Greywater production ranged from 80 to 83% of the total fresh water consumption and most of the greywater is generated from showers. Further, 55 to 57% of the greywater generated in a typical Omani household originated from the shower, 28 to 33% originated from the kitchen, 6 to 9% originated from laundry, and 5 to 7% originated from sink, which constitutes approximately 81% of the total fresh water consumption. The physical, chemical, and biological analyses of the grab samples revealed that greywater contains significant levels of suspended solids, inorganic constituents, total organic carbon, chemical and biochemical oxygen demands, total Coliforms and Escherichia Coliform bacteria. The public acceptance survey illustrated that approximately 76% of the respondents accepted the reuse of greywater for gardening, 53% for car washing and 66% for toilet flushing.

Grey water characterisation and pollutant loads in an urban slum

“…In urban slums, grey water originates mainly from laundry, bathing and kitchen activities carried out at household level. The grey water return factor (proportion of water consumption that is converted to grey water) varies from 65 to 95 % (Prathapar et al 2005;Carden et al 2007a;Jamrah et al 2008;Abu Ghunmi et al 2008. The quality and quantity of grey water are influenced by the high population density, unplanned low-cost housing units with limited accessibility, income level, cultural norms and type of cleaning detergents used (Eriksson et al 2002;Morel and Diener 2006;Kariuki et al 2012).…”

Is Gray Water the Key to Unlocking Water for Resource-Poor Areas of the Middle East, North Africa, and Other Arid Regions of the World?

“…A similar survey in Oman reported that 76.4 % of their respondents were willing to use GW for gardening, 53.3 % for washing cars, and 66.3 % for flushing toilets, but currently per capita treatment levels remain low in Oman (14.4 m 3 year -1 pop. -1 ) compared to other countries in the MENA region (Jamrah et al 2008).…”

“…Cost barriers are not the only factor leading to low application; health concern and perceived risk are reported as leading barriers to widespread use of recycled wastewaters, including GW (Jamrah et al 2008;Dolnicar et al 2011). In 2008 Jamrah et al found that among respondents in Oman that rejected the use of GW, 87 % indicated that their personal safety was a reason for rejection of GW, and 46.7 % of the entire sample reported that using GW was harmful to human health.…”

Can Integrated Water Resources Management Contribute to Sustainable Peace in the Middle East?

“…Greywater, which is water from showers, kitchen, and laundry, can be safely reused in agriculture. Jamrah et al (2008) found that reusing greywater in Oman can save between 12 and 65% of the total fresh water use. Greywater can also be used for toilet flushing and save between 29 to 35% of potable water (Ghisi & Ferreira, 2007).…”