Symposium on “Best practices & its impact on Water resources sustainability” Ibri, 25-26th January 2016 Regional projects on water resources development: Case studies from the Arab region Dr. Jauad El Kharraz Head of Research The Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) 25/01/2016
Outline 0. Overview on MEDRC 1. MEDRC Research program 2. MEDRC Training program 3. Water-Drop project & its case studies 4. Conclusions
0. MEDRC • A non-profit international organization • Founded in 1996 and based in Muscat • Chaired by HE Sayid Badr Bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman. • MEDRC’s main mission is to promote and support the use of desalination and water reuse technologies to satisfy regional needs for available , affordable , clean fresh water through three programs: 1) Research 2) Development Cooperation 3) Continued Professional Education & Training in Water
1. Research Program Our region, the Middle East , has the lowest renewable water resource, the most extreme water stress and both massive population and per capita water consumption growth. More efficient desalination , better water reuse and a shift to renewable technologies are urgently needed to enable us rise to this challenge of fresh water scarcity . Our research program is about bringing the best regional and global expertise together to help find solutions to that challenge .
Aim: Developing the researchers of tomorrow from the region who will lead our efforts to secure sustainable water for the people of the Middle East into the future. Some figures: 1. MEDRC supported 169 water research projects (researchers from 34 countries) 2. Master's and PhD water research fellowships awarded to 115 regional nationals 3. More than 300 publications 4. Countless expert workshops, and knowledge transfer activities across the MENA region.
MEDRC Research Program 2016-2020 Our program aims to: • Decrease the cost of desalination and its environmental impact • Develop productive partnerships and cooperation • Develop sustainable desalination technologies • Improve communications in the desalination community • Develop human resources for application of desalination and foster international cooperation in research activities • Utilize limited regional and international research resources • Maximize technology transfer
MEDRC Research Program 2016-2020: Main Initiatives 1. MEDRC Water Information Hub (Bulletin, research networks..) 2. MEDRC Water Challenge Initiatives (Humanitarian challenge, innovative solutions..) 3. MEDRC-Led Research Projects (quick research response to new issues) 4. MEDRC Facilitated Research (water research solutions to the public & private sectors) 5. Expert Symposia (state of the technology, HABs, lectures, awareness..) 6. MEDRC Strategic Alliances (MoUs with regional & international actors) 7. Transboundary Water (capitalizing expertise on transboundary water management ) 8. Support to Development Cooperation Program (scholarships and university capacity building activities) 9. Capitalization (database, success stories analysis) 10. Helping Develop a Sustainable and Transferable MEDRC
Harmful Algal Blooms project (USAID/Researchers from Oman, Kuwait, UAE & US) Combatting the Emerging Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) on Desalination Plants: Bloom Detection, Forecasting, and Strategies for Impact Reduction started in Aug’ 2014. -- Capabilities developed for remote sensing, modeling, and forecasting to provide critical information and practical guidance on how to deal with HABs invasion as they occur.
2. Continued Professional Education & Training in Water (CPET in Water)
CPET in Water Provide high quality specialized training for engineers, technicians, operators and new comers who will be operating desalination plants or water and waste water processing plants through: • Classroom courses covering theoretical aspects of technologies. • Hands courses that offer to the trainees to practice what they have learn in classroom courses • On site training is specific training tailored to fit client’s needs Objectives • Increase the amount of useable water available to the population of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through training of personnel that operate water processing plants. Trained Staff operate more efficiently means greater output with very little additional cost. • Developing In-Country Value (Omanisation in Oman) and ensuring their own nationals can lead their desalination efforts.
MEDRC’s Training Facility
MEDRC’s R.O. Pilot Plant
MEDRC’s Solar Arrays
3. Water-DROP WATER Development Resources Opportunity Policies for the water management in semi-arid areas
Objectives Water-DROP Project aims to develop an IWRM approach at the Mediterranean Basin level for managing the related cross-sector issues through the enforcement of multi-stakeholder partnerships, in particular with public and private actors. Main concerns: • Implementation and capacity building aspect: marine and freshwater monitoring, water treatment, water governance, and cost-benefit analysis • Technical-methodological aspect: an integrated approach DSS-GIS for the water cycle management • Normative aspect: 4 Normative Proposals on water management, leading to the progressive harmonization of the legislation on the issue at the Mediterranean Basin level.
Water Situation in the Region The most water deprived region in the world • More focus on Non-conventional water resources? TWW, • Desalination, TWW is part of water budget & Reuse for agriculture, More attention to water demand, and supply management • practices (IWRM) Increase water use efficiency, water allocation among sector • Enforcement of legislation, pricing policies •
Action taken by Jordanian Gov as case study • Legislation enforcement • Pricing policy and Water Tariff • WWT& R for restricted irrigation and landscaping, decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse (DWWT&R) Strategy • Water demand & supply management • Public awareness • Private-public partnership • Marginal water desalination (brackish water) • Enhance rainwater harvesting • Mega projects (Disi ,Red – Dead Canal)
Action taken to protect groundwater as example • 224 illegal wells out of 1400 drains more than 25 MCM/Y, • Confiscation of more than 145 drilling machine • Convert more than 1000 adjust to the courts , • Cabinet approved legislation to stop attacks on sources of water, dig wells offense • Measures to reduce these irregularities including: • Stop deliver electrical current to the abuse and not allow the import of water pumps for wells, but after receiving a approval of the Water Authority to keep track of sold and installed, • Stop work permits for foreign workers in offense farms, which owns the illegal wells) • Alray newspaper VOL. 15886 4 /may/2014
Pilot Actions About 3 million people will take advantage of the development of the improved common framework for IWRM: Italy : feasibility study for the recovery of Torre Flavia natural wetland on the northern coast of the Lazio region. Jordan : in Al Balqa region, set-up of 31 water saving systems in private and public buildings. Lebanon : 1) water monitoring on freshwater/marine interface on Lebanon northern coast 2) Set-up a constructed wetland for treatment of polluted water from aquaculture and 3) Construction of 3,5Km sewage system in the Municipality of Hermel. Palestine : in Ramallah area, set-up of a constructed wetland for treatment of urban waste water and reuse for agriculture irrigation.
Jordan Partner: (IUCN) Location: Allan ,um Allamad , Jalad Village (Balqa governorate ) Focus: Fighting water scarcity: Encourage rainwater harvesting in Jordan Lebanon Partner: National Council for Scientific Research Location: Hirmel , Assi River; Focus: improvement of a sewage system and reduction of pollution risk Palestine Partner: PHG Location: Bani Zaid Village in the Ramallah Governorate Focus: WWTP which are reused for irrigating olive and fruit orchards Italy Partners: ENEA Location: Torre Flavia area near Rome Focus: protection of a natural wetland rich in fauna and flora with wastewater auto-depurative capacity.
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