Sustainability is important everywhere, and it is especially urgent in places with rapidly growing populations that are more prone to lower water scarcity. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s hot and dry climate puts cities at risk. However, MENA’s water-scarce cities produce a ton of wastewater that can potentially be treated to accommodate their water needs.
What is Sewer Mining?
Sewer mining is when wastewater is harvested and treated to remove contaminants and separate certain chemicals so that it can be reused. It is typically sourced and treated locally. It can reduce the demand for potable water by offering a localized, alternative source for non-potable applications.
The sewer mining system is composed of two main units — a membrane bioreactor and a reverse osmosis unit. They are joined together into one compact system that makes them easier to transport. These units work together to filter wastewater and make it safe to use for agriculture, landscaping, irrigation or possibly drinking water.
Sewer Mining in MENA
The MENA region is the most water-stressed region worldwide. It is a good contender for sewer mining due to its overabundance of available wastewater and the growing need for clean water, especially in its cities.
Using Sewer Mining to Fight Water Scarcity
MENA has many water-scarce cities with untapped potential. Untreated wastewater could poison the existing fresh water if left where it is. This could further endanger public health and add to the water crisis.
However, the growing populations in MENA’s cities produce enough wastewater that, if properly utilized and thoroughly treated, could help combat the water scarcity issue. The potential to transform a pollutant into a valuable commodity is appealing to many researchers and stakeholders.
Challenges of Treating Wastewater
Regulations and laws currently in place are not adequate to force cities to convert their wastewater. Some laws even put restrictions on wastewater treatment or aspects of it that hinder the process. There are also no clear incentives for treating wastewater — unless there is a money-based incentive, the job will likely not get done.
A disconnect between different industries within the cities also accounts for the lack of opportunities for wastewater treatment. If industries do not work together to provide their own assistance in this crisis, then solving the problem will be more difficult.
Pipes within the cities’ sewer lines may be weak or broken, considering that wastewater is contaminating some freshwater. A solution would be to use trenchless sewer repair, as opposed to repairs that require digging up half the land to fix the pipes. Trenchless sewer repair involves releasing an epoxy resin into a pipe that builds a new one inside it. This technique eliminates hefty construction jobs and decreases the contamination of clean water.
Cultural barriers and distrust in cities also play a role. Many people think reusing wastewater is unsanitary or will cause health issues. To make a real change, it is important for everyone to understand how the treatment can successfully get rid of harmful contaminants and be on board with the idea.
Potential Benefits of Utilizing Wastewater
Treating and using wastewater could increase the amount of water available for MENA’s water-scarce cities’ growing population. Wastewater can be used on a farm to irrigate and fertilize the soil, and it contains many nutrients that can help plants.
Wastewater contains carbon that can be converted into methane, which could potentially produce electricity for a large number of houses. When using it for energy, consider the environmental impacts of whichever energy method is chosen. Solar and wind energy solutions are more sustainable options.
Forestry, agriculture and landscaping are other industries that can utilize wastewater. Providing treated wastewater to all of these companies can limit water scarcity in MENA’s cities and provide an economic cushion for the city’s industries.
The Danger of Water Scarcity
Water scarcity is not just an issue in the MENA region. It is a global concern. Pollution is poisoning many known water resources, and climate change is causing other sources to dry up. Population growth, as seen in the MENA region’s cities, is happening in many regions worldwide, which is only making water scarcity worse. The amount of water on the planet cannot compete with the demanding thirst.
Negative effects of this water loss are numerous, spanning environmental and social consequences. These include, but are not limited to:
- Limited drinking water
- Disease outbreaks and other health risks
- Stunted crop growth
- Wetlands disappearing
- Increased pollution concentration
- Damages to entire ecosystems
- Economic hardships
- Conflicts between communities or nations
Reusing resources with untapped potential, like wastewater, is the key to a more sustainable future. It can significantly contribute to urban resilience, especially in regions prone to droughts.
Case Studies of Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
Technology exists to remove harmful chemicals and extract usable nutrients from wastewater. Wastewater treatment is most successful when it can be done sustainably and within closed-loop systems. In Massachusetts, a facility is using a photovoltaic system to manage wastewater from commercial and residential off-put. Photovoltaic systems are solar-powered, so they can reduce atmospheric pollution.
California is also struggling to meet drinking water demands due to droughts in the region, which affect over 2 billion people annually. To combat this issue, the Orange County Water District is generating millions of gallons of drinking water a day to serve residents.
Utilizing Wastewater
Wastewater is a largely untapped resource, especially in MENA’s water-scarce cities. To be more sustainable, it is important to look for ways to reuse waste so that it does not sit there and accumulate while populations suffer. Proper regulations and supportive professionals are needed to make sewer mining doable in these cities, especially so they get their investment in the sewer mining system back. Teamwork, like in many environmental issues, is the solution.
