Evaluating GIS based water budget components applicability and availability for the Lagan River catchment

Using open-access data sets on water and soil from Swedish authorities and compiling them in a QGIS-programme made it possible to present and visualise the water budget of the Lagan River Catchment. Based on the estimations of the water volume in groundwater reservoirs and lakes the total maximum available volume in the Lagan River Catchment area was determined to be 9.36 km3. Of this 75.9% (7.10 km3) is found within groundwater reservoirs and 24.1% (2.26 km3) is present in lakes. This study indicates that GIS-based parameters are useful for specifying what a water budget in a catchment area looks like.The use of GIS-based parameters also allows for the development of interactive maps which can be used to visualize different conditions in the catchment area. In addition, many people who work with water management have a good habit of using GIS tools. Utilizing open data sources means that the number of additional measurements can be kept low. Furthermore, the use of open sources contributes to increased transparency in the development proces

Solid Waste Management in Jordan

Solid waste became one of the major environmental problems in Jordan, which has been aggravated over the past 15 years by the sharp increase in the volume of waste generated as well as qualitative changes in its composition. The challenges face solid waste management (SWM) in Jordan are numerous. Financial constraints, shortage of proper equipment and limited availability of trained and skilled manpower together with massive and sudden population increases due to several waves of forced migration. In this work we discussed these challenges; the main problems which stand against developing this sector to sustainable levels in the coming future are identified. Suggestions and recommendations that should be taken in consideration for developing the sector are also presente

The emission potential from municipal solid waste landfill in Jordan

A comprehensive study was conducted to monitor the emission potential from solid waste landfilled in Jordan over a period of 292 days using an anaerobic lysimeter. A 30 kg waste sample reflecting the typical municipal solid waste (MSW) streams generated in Jordan was used to simulate the influence of climate on the emission potential of landfills located in semi-arid areas. The experimental results demonstrated that a significant amount of leachate and landfill gas was produced. The methane content was found to be more than 45% and the leachate produced reached 15.7 l after 200 days. However, after 260 days the gas and leachate production rate became negligible. A significant amount of heavy metal traces was found in the leachate due to mixed waste disposal. Changes in biogas and leachate quality parameters in the lysimeter revealed typical landfill behaviour trends, the only difference being that they developed much more quickly. In view of current landfill practices in Jordan and the effect of climate change, the results suggest that landfill design and operational modes need to be adjusted in order to achieve sustainability. For this reason, optimized design parameters and operational scenarios for sustainable landfill based on the country’s climatic conditions and financial as well as technical potential are recommended as a primary reference for future landfills in Jordan as well as in similar regions and climates

A joint power and desalination plant for Sinai and the Gaza Strip

Desalination can be a cost-effective way to produce fresh water and possibly electricity. The Gaza Strip has had a complex hydro-political situation for many years. Gaza is bordered by the Mediterranean sea in the west, by Israel in the north and east and by Egypt in the south. Water and electricity consumption in the Gaza Strip is expected to increase in the future due to the increasing in population. In this paper, a solution for Sinai and the Gaza Strip is suggested involving the building of a joint power and desalination plant, located in Egypt close to the border of Gaza. The suggested joint project would increase drinking water supply by 500,000 m3/d and the power supply by 500MW, whereof 2/3 is suggested to be used in Gaza and 1/3 in Sinai. The present lack of electricity and water in Gaza could be erased by such a project. But Egypt will probably gain more. More water and electricity for the future development of Sinai and Gaza; a significant value will be added to the sale of Egyptian natural gas; more employment opportunities for Sinai people; the domestic market for operation and maintenance of desalination plants can be boosted by the suggested project; Egypt may naturally and peacefully increase its cooperation with and presence in Gaza, which should lead to increased security. This type of project could also get international support and can be a role-model for cooperation and trust-building between neighbours

Fewer, tastier tomatoes: Expanding the use of saltwater in agriculture

As the world experiences increasing freshwater crises, researchers turn to saline waters. Can the use of saltwater be expanded? The development of appropriate practices for the use of saline waters for irrigation requires an adequate understanding of how salts affect waters, soils and plants, as FAO states in their book The use of saline waters for crop production, 1992. Plants can grow in saline waters, if the salinity of the soil is controlled and monitored, and the soil salt content is not allowed to increase past a level that damages the plants. Irrigation of salt tolerant plants with slightly saline waters offers a substantial opportunity to increase the yearly crop production of the world

On the distribution of saline groundwater in the Poopo Basin, central Bolivian Highland

Lake Poopó is a terminal lake of the Bolivian Altiplano, with high salinity and heavy anthropogenic pollution from centuries of extensive mining activity. This study aims to describe how the water quality of groundwater and surface water system in different subwater-sheds of the Lake Poopó varies with geology and hydrology. Measurements of total dissolved solids (TDS) in wells show groundwater becoming more saline close to the lake. The results indicate high natural contamination from weathering of minerals with high concentrations of lead and arsenic, generally dry conditions which results in high salinity in water and soil, and most importantly, anthropogenic contamination from the intensive mining and metallurgic activities. Fresh groundwater can be found in the upper part of the soil and bedrock to a small extent. Up-coning and saline water intrusion is very common in the wells, which need to be shallow in order to avoid abstraction of saline groundwater. The groundwater is highly vulnerable and further on contaminated by acid mine drainage from the mining tails and by untreated effluents from the towns and villages of the area

The Impact of Lake Water Quality on the Performance of Mature Artificial Recharge Ponds

Artificial groundwater recharge is commonly used for drinking water supply. The resulting water quality is highly dependent on the raw water quality. In many cases, pre-treatment is required. Pre-treatment improves the drinking water quality, although how and to what extent it affects the subsequent pond water quality and infiltration process, is still unknown. We evaluated two treatment systems by applying different pre-treatment methods for raw water from a eutrophic and temperate lake. An artificial recharge pond was divided into two parts, where one received raw water, only filtered through a micro-screen with 500 µm pores (control treatment), while the other part received pre-treated lake water using chemical flocculation with polyaluminium chloride (PACl) combined with sand filtration, i.e. continuous contact filtration (contact filter treatment). Water quality such as cyanobacterial biomass, microcystin-LR as well as organic matter and nutrients were measured in both treatment processes. We found cyanobacterial biomass and microcystin-LR level after the contact filter treatment was significantly different from the control treatment and also significantly different in the pond water. In addition, with contact filter treatment, total phosphorus (TP) and organic matter removal were significantly improved in the end water, TP was reduced by 96 % (< 20 µg/L) and the total organic carbon (TOC) was reduced by 66 % instead of 55 % (TOC content around 2.1 mg/L instead of 3.0 mg/L). This full-scale onsite experiment demonstrated effective pre-treatment would benefit a more stable water quality system, with less variance and lower cyanotoxin risk. In a broader drinking water management perspective, the presented method is promising to reduce cyanotoxin risk, as well as TP and TOC, which are all predicted to increase with global warming and extreme weather

A Joint Desalination and Power Plants for Water and Development: A Case study of the Sinai-Gaza

Desalination can be a cost-effective way to produce fresh water and possibly electricity. The Gaza Strip has had a complex hydro-political situation for many years. Gaza (enclosed area) is bordered by the Mediterranean in the west, by Israel in the north and east and by Egypt in the south. Water and electricity consumption in the Gaza Strip is expected to increase in the future due to the increasing population. In this paper, a solution for Sinai and the Gaza Strip is suggested involving the building of a joint power and desalination plant, located in Egypt close to the border of Gaza. Results of capital and unit costs have been derived from bench-mark studies of 18 different desalination projects mainly in the Middle East countries. The suggested joint Egypt-Palestine project would increases drinking water supply by 500,000 m3/d and the power supply by 500MW, whereof 2/3 is suggested to be used in Gaza and 1/3 in Sinai. The present lack of electricity and water in Gaza could be erased by such a project. But Egypt will probably gain more. More water and electricity will be available for the future development of Sinai; a significant value will be added to the sale of Egyptian natural gas used for water and power production in the project; more employment opportunities can be offered for people living in Sinai and Gaza; the domestic market for operation and maintenance of desalination plants can be boosted by the suggested project. Egypt may naturally and peacefully increase its cooperation with and presence in Gaza, which should lead to increased security around the border between Egypt and Gaza. This type of project could also get international support and can be a role-model for cooperation and trust-building between neighbours in the Middle East region. This study have also compared with more than five different alternatives

Environmental Assessment of Brine Discharge Including Wastewater Collection in the Arabian Gulf

The environmental effects of brine discharge in the Arabian/Persian Gulf have been assessed. The Arabic Gulf is a wide and shallow system having a horizontal shear dominance. The management choice of mixing brine with wastewater to reduce the salt content in the discharge has also been considered. Approximately 90% of the area around the Arabian Gulf has been compared with the world data for desalination and population growth rate. The Arabian Gulf region is occupying about 3.3% of the world area and 1.0, 2.0 and 2.2% of the total world population in the years 1950, 2008 and 2050 respectively. The annual population growth rate during the whole period is approximately 1.30 in the world and 2.07 in the area studied. The results for the study area were obtained from desalination capacities that are about 50, 40 and 45% of total world capacity for the end of 1996, 2008 and 2050 respectively.The increased recovery ratio in desalination plants over the years was considered as one important environmental factor. At the end of 1996 it was about 30 to 35% and 2008 about 40 to 45%. In some countries it can reach 50%. This development will significantly increase the brine salt concentration from 1.5 to more than 2 times seawater and negatively affect the receiving water. Water and salt mass balance were used to calculate residual flow, exchange flow and exchange time of the Arabian Gulf. For example at zero wastewater discharge and from 1996 to 2008, the net volume has decreased by the amount of 7.4 millions m3/day, exchange volume increased by 69 millions m3/day and the mixing time decreased with 22.5 days. For the next 42 years from 2008 until the year 2050 the calculation shows a decrease in the net volume by 48.7 millions m3/day, an exchange volume increase by 424 millions m3/day and a mixing time decrease of about 126 days. The more desalted water that is collected from the Gulf, the higher remaining salinity is found in the Gulf.With higher salinity in the Gulf, the exchange between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean will increase. Mixing brine with wastewater dampens the water and salt exchange between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. This method will however also minimize the water that is coming from ocean to the Gulf. The content of nutrients in wastewater is positive for irrigation but with only secondary treatment problems like eutrophication in the Gulf may be increased if the exchange of water is low

Estimated Future Production of Desalinated Seawater in the MENA Countries and Consequences for the Recipients

Seawater desalination constitutes an important source for water supply to the population bordering the Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea. Desalination has advantages and disadvantages which may depend on the region, location, technology, impact and amount of fresh water production. Desalination may also have other impacts. For example, chemicals added in the pre-treatment stages could harm the fish production as well as the marine life in general.The total land area in the three regions represents about 11.8% of the world land area and the countries host approximately 9% of the world population in the three years 1950, 2008 and 2050. Population statistics for a 100-year period has been used inclusive a prognosis from 2010 to 2050. Data on desalination plant capacity covering 12 years from 1996 to 2008 has been summarized and a prognosis of the increase in desalination for the three regions until 2050 developed. The results obtained for desalination capacity in the study area were 62%, 58%, and 60% of the world capacity for 1996, 2008, and 2050, respectively. This study also included estimates of the desalination capacity in cubic meter per capita of fresh water in the years 1996, 2008, and 2050: this capacity is about 1.2, 2.5, and 4.7 m3/capita/yr in the world compared to 7.7, 15.6, and 30 m3/capita/yr in the study area. The increase in the recovery ratio is considered as one important factor in this study. In 1996 this ratio was about 30 to 35%, and in 2008 it was 40 to 45%, yet in some plants reaching up to 50%. Brine discharge will increase the salinities of the Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea, with respectively some extra 2.24, 0.81 and 1.16 g/l in the year 2050