Wastewater reuse in agriculture sector: resources management and adaptation in the context of climate change: case study of the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, Morocco

Abstract

Recent climate change effects worsened water scarcity in Morocco and forced the country to seek alternative water resources such as domestic and industrial wastewater. In this context, we assessed the treatment efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) of the BeniMellal-Khenifra region based on physicochemical and biological parameters. Vegetation cover evolution near WWTPs was also analysed using satellite images (Landsat TM and OLI). Six WWTP were evaluated based on treated water quality and a survey of nearby farmers and residents. Results showed treated wastewater is in line with Moroccan standards, and can be reused for irrigation and aquaculture without harmful effects. The survey pointed to the Boujaad WWTP as a model in the region. The vegetation cover evolution before and after WWTP existence showed an important improvement of cultivated lands. As a conclusion, wastewater reuse will allow the BeniMellal-Khenifra region to secure agricultural irrigation to safeguard freshwater quantities and quality despite climate change.

Assessment of the prospects for the use of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes in the Republic of Crimea

“… rational use of water resource potential [9][10][11];  increase soil fertility due to the amount of nutrients, contained in wastewater, and increase crop yields [12][13][14][15], etc.…”

Multi-criteria Assessment of Onsite Packaged Wastewater Treatment Systems

“…Given the lack of freshwater availability globally and in Arid countries particularly, it has become necessary to use onsite treatment systems to treat wastewater and reuse the effluents. As climate change poses serious threats to global water security [8], onsite wastewater treatment systems could provide an adaptation and mitigation to climate change in hard-hit countries by providing effluents of suitable quality for reuse [9]. Also, it has been pointed out that environmental pollution, water scarcity, population growth, innovation, and technological developments encourage rethinking the current approach to urban water management [10], [11].…”