Annals of West University of Timişoara, ser. Biology, 2014, vol XVII (2), pp.

95-110

REUSE OF TREATED WASTEWATER IN AGRICULTURE:

SOLVING WATER DEFICIT PROBLEMS IN ARID AREAS
(REVIEW)

Faissal AZIZ1, Mohamed FARISSI*2

1
National Center for Research and Study on Water and Energy, University Cadi Ayyad,
Marrakesh, Morocco
2
Unit of Plant Biotechnology and Symbiosis Agro-physiology, Faculty of Sciences and
Techniques, Marrakesh, Morocco.
Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]
Received 9 September 2014; accepted 1 November 2014

ABSTRACT
In the arid and semiarid areas, the availability and the management of irrigation
water have become priorities of great importance. The successive years of drought,
induced by climate change and population growth, increasingly reduced the amount of
water reserved for agriculture. Consequently, many countries have included
wastewater reuse as an important dimension of water resources planning. In the more
arid areas wastewater is used in agriculture, releasing high resource of water
supplies. In this context, the present work is a review focusing the reuse of treated
wastewater in agriculture as an important strategy for solving water deficit problems
in arid areas. Much information concerning the wastewater reuse in different regions
of the world and in Morocco, the different wastewater treatment technologies existing
in Morocco were discussed. The review focused also the fertilizing potential of
wastewater in agriculture, the role of nutrients and their concentrations in wastewater
and their advantages effects on plant growth and yield.
KEY WORDS: wastewater, reuse, drought, fertilizing potential, agriculture

INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the wastewater reuse has experienced very rapid growth with
an increase in volumes of wastewater reuse in the order of 10-29% per year, in Europe,
the United States and China, and up to 41% in Australia. The current daily volume of
water used reaches a staggering 1.5-1.7 million m3 per day in several countries, such as
California, Florida, Mexico and China (Lazarova & Brissaud, 2007).
Reuse of wastewater is spread around the world with several types of recovery.
There are thousands of projects using wastewater (Bixio et al., 2008). Bixio et al.
(2005) are classified different types of reuse in 4 categories 1) agricultural use, 2)
urban and periurban use and replenishing the aquifer 3) industrial use, 4) mixed uses.
Globally, the reuse of treated wastewater for agriculture, industry and domestic use
cover respectively 70%, 20%, 10% of water demand (Ecosse, 2001), however, these
proportions vary across regions of the world (Figure 1).

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AZIZ & FARISSI: Reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture: solving water deficit problems in arid areas

FIG.1. Aspects of wastewater reuse in different regions of the world (Bixio et al., 2005)

It is obvious, that the reuse of wastewater (raw or treated waste) has been
promoted throughout the world, based on real experiences. In Latin America (Peasey
et al., 2000), about 400 m3/s of raw sewage flow into surface water and almost 500,000
hectares of farmland are irrigated with wastewater, mostly without packaging (Mexico
-350000, Chile-16000, Peru and Argentina-5500-3700). In Mexico, irrigation with
wastewater began in 1926 for irrigation of different crops. Thus, after more than 80
years, there are 40 departments that reuse wastewater, which only 11% are treated for
irrigation of agricultural land with a total area of 350,000 hectares (Peasey et al.,
2000).
In the Valley of Amezquital, there is the largest project of wastewater reuse in
the world with 83,000 hectares irrigated with raw sewage (Domínguez-Mariani et al.,
2004).
In the United States, since 1955, the wastewater is reused for landscaping
purposes. In fact, besides irrigation of parks, golf courses and parks, artificial lakes
were fed in whole or part by treated wastewater (Puil, 1998). In France, the reuse of
treated water is undeveloped. This is mainly due to the abundance of water resources
whose consumption does not exceed 24% of available resources (Lazarova &
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Brissaud, 2007). Although in this country, the reuse of treated wastewater has started
since the eighties, direct reuse of wastewater remained limited to a few special cases,
particularly in the islands of Ré, Noirmoutier, Oléron and Porquerolles. A
Noirmoutier, irrigation is carried out on 220 hectares of potatoes and zucchini. At Ars-
en-Ré, sprinkler irrigation is performed on maize, sunflower and potato. Vegetable
crops and orchards (peach, almond) are watered to the line or drip irrigation on a
surface of 30 hectares of irrigation (Puil, 1998). The Clermont-Ferrand project is the
most important event of reuse of treated wastewater in France. The perimeter has
expanded to 580 acres, 8 municipalities with a total population of 17 000. In 1998,
150,000 m3 of industrial and 440,000 m3 of domestic sewage effluents and were used
after treatment for agriculture. The main crops are corn, seed corn and beet. In general,
almost all the other countries around the Mediterranean, from Spain to Syria, reuse of
wastewater (treated and untreated) for various applications (Bixio et al., 2005). Indeed,
Mediterranean basin is a region where water scarcity is particularly felt. It is also one
of the regions where agricultural reuse of urban waste is the most practiced. In some
countries, this reuse has become the subject of a national policy such us Tunisia,
Greece and Jordan (Rebhun, 2004, Tsagarakis et al., 2004; Ammary, 2007; Bahri &
Brissaud, 2002). In Tunisia, the TWW represent 4.3% of the available water resources
for 1996, and they will reach 11% by 2030. In Israel, these waters represent 15% of
available resources for the year 2000 and approximately 20% by 2010 (Kamizoulis et
al., 2003). However, relative to the total water resources, wastewater volumes
reconditioned represent approximately 7% in Tunisia, 8% in Jordan, 24% in Israel and
32% in Kuwait. However, the fraction of reused wastewater is highly variable, with the
latter about 10% while the figures are 20 -30% in Tunisia, 85% in Jordan and 92% in
Israel (Kamizoulis et al., 2003).
Jordan, closer to its goal of recycling 100% of the wastewater, about 90% of the
73 million water meters cubic recovered on 19 wastewater treatment stations are now
reused directly or indirectly in the industry, construction and agriculture.
REUSE IN ARID ENVIRONMENTS: THE RIGHT APPROACH TO WATER
MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE.
In arid and semi-arid regions, changes in precipitation accompanied by
successive droughts generate long-term impacts on water availability for farmers
(Khouri et al., 1994; Farissi et al., 2014a). For this, quantitatively, the waste water is a
source of water always available since the consumption of clean water does not stop
(Pollice et al., 2004; Papaiacovou, 2001). Indeed, the treated wastewater can balance
the natural cycle of water and conserve resources by reducing harmful emissions into
the environment (Bouchet, 2008). In addition to environmental benefits, treated
wastewater could have a positive economic impact on farmers. As a result of the high
demand for water in the agricultural sector, the delivery of treated water to agricultural
fields would decrease the negative impact caused by the use of clean water in irrigation

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AZIZ & FARISSI: Reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture: solving water deficit problems in arid areas

(Haruvy, 1997; Toze, 2006). In fact, irrigation can affect the economy of poor farmers,
especially when the equality of access to land and water is absent (FAO, 2005).
Therefore, the treated water could reduce all these expenses and would make less
costly irrigation and scope of local farmers, allowing them to invest their money in
crop diversification and to move towards a large agriculture added value and
sustainable (Haruvy, 1997; Molinos-Senante, 2011). This would also increase the
property value of irrigated land, making significant economic benefits to farmers. Even
those responsible for sanitation and water treatment could benefit from selling price of
treated water and derived products rather than direct discharge into the natural
environment (Lazarova & Brissaud, 2007).
Furthermore, the reuse of treated wastewater showed several advantages. In fact,
this irrigation water has increased the harvest of vegetables from poor people who
cannot afford to buy fish and meat (Sheikh, 1998). Therefore, this increase has resulted
in a positive impact on dietary population and income of farmers (Agunwamba, 2001).
OVERVIEW OF THE CONVENTIONAL WATER RESOURCES IN
MOROCCO
Water resources in Morocco are facing problems of quantity and quality. These
resources are limited due to the semi-arid to the arid climate in most of the territory,
with episodic droughts and suffer on deterioration in their quality by their runoff on
different limestone rocks spread over the Moroccan territory (XinShen and Roe, 2000)
Morocco's water resources are highly variable with annual volume of precipitation
over the entire territory between 50 and to 400 billion m3 estimated to average 150
billion m3. The potential availability of water in average year is about 29 billion m3 of
which about 19 billion m3 are formed by surface water (CSEC, 2001).
The renewable water resources are estimated in average year by some 30 billion
m3, of which 20 billion m3 are mobilized under acceptable economic conditions (FAO
AquaStat, 2005). The volume of renewable water per capita is currently at about 1,000
m3 per capita situating Morocco at the limit of poverty in water, considered limit from
which pressures on water resources begin to manifest (International Development
Research Centre, 2008). At the horizon 2020, given population growth, the volume of
water that would be available per capita will drop to about 750 m3 per capita per year
(Yacoubi & Belghiti 2002; Jemali & Kefati, 2002; Bzioui, 2004).
The chronic water scarcity is thus becoming a permanent situation that can no
longer be ignored while drawing the strategies and policies concerning the
management of water resources in Morocco. In this context and to support the
development of the country, Morocco has long been committed to mastery of these
water resources through the implementation of 128 large dams with a total capacity of
around 17 billion m3 and thousands of boreholes and wells capturing groundwater
(Doukkali, 2005).

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AGRICULTURE IN MOROCCO: THE GREAT CHALLENGE OF WATER

DEMAND
Morocco is a predominantly arid and desert country despite its Atlantic coast.
These weather conditions make irrigation a key technical requirement which economic
and social benefits are undeniable. The day after the country's independence, irrigation
was a privileged way of agricultural development and has received special attention
from the authorities (Doukkali, 2005).
Today, the irrigation sector is the largest consumer of water in Morocco. Indeed,
it consumes nearly 88% of the volume of water regularized. Morocco has a total area
of 446,500 km2; the cultivable area is 8 million hectares or 18% of the total land area.
The potential of perennial irrigation is currently estimated at 1,364,250 hectares, or
nearly 16% of the utilized agricultural area, to this must be added about 300,000 ha of
seasonally irrigable land and by spreading flood waters (Administration du Génie
Rural, Direction du Développement et de la Gestion de l’Irrigation, mars 2005).
This large water deficit on the one hand and increasing demand for agricultural
products on the other, are two factors among others who are behind the development
of irrigation in all regions of Morocco. Scarcity and limited potential of natural water
resources are a limiting factor for the development of irrigated crops. Considerable
efforts are being made in the inventory, the mobilization and management of water
resources.

FIG. 2. Water resources consumption in Morocco

STATE WASTEWATER AND TRENDS

Wastewater potential in Morocco
During the 20th century, Morocco has experienced a very high population
growth which had the effect of increasing the demand for potable water in urban areas
and, subsequently, the rate of connections to the drinking water system, consequently
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that of the wastewater. With the expansion of urban areas and the expansion of
sewerage networks, the annual volume of wastewater discharged has increased (Jemali
and Kefati, 2002).
Significant amounts of pollutants from domestic sources are discharged into
natural receiving environments, annual volumes of wastewater discharges cities have
raised sharply over the past three decades. The figure 3, present the production of
wastewater in Morocco by the entire urban that was estimated in 1990 to 210 million
m3, in 1999 to 500 million m3 and reach 750 million m3 in the year 2012 (Mandi &
Ouazzani, 2013; Rifki, 2013). Reffouh (2007) and Lahlou (2007), believes that this
volume could reach 900 million m3 in 2020.
Despite the large amount of wastewater annually, the number of treatment plants
who are in office remains low (Jemali and Kefati, 2002). Carrying in large urban
centers, most of the population has a sewerage network with a connection rate of up to
75%, whereas in small towns the network connection remains low and does not exceed
35% (Yacoubi, 1999).

FIG. 3. Evolution of rejected wastewater volumes (mm3/year)

Wastewater Treatments
There are several channels with different types of treatment, but the choice of
treatment processes should be adequate from point of view of climate, the expected
applications and the cost of investment (Werther and Ogada, 1999). These processes
require a consistent set of treatments performed after pretreatment such as screening,
and degreasing. We distinguish intensive processes including activated sludge,
biological drives and trickling filters and extensive processes with lagoons and
infiltration-percolation.

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Since 1958, sixty of wastewater treatment stations (WWTP) were built in

Morocco, but in 1994 the vast majority is down or is not connected to the network for
various reasons: inadequacy of the treatment system to local conditions, faulty design
of structures, lack of maintenance, management problems (lack of budget, lack of
competent technical staff), lack of planning in the short and long term.
In 2004, only 8% of wastewater is treated, the rest is discharged directly into the
sea (52%), the water system (32%) and septic systems, causing serious pollution of the
coastline, rivers and groundwater. This wastewater treatment rate was increased in
2012 to 28% (Rifki, 2013).
In 2009, over 100 WWTPs are mainly installed in small and medium towns in
the interior of the Moroccan country. They used a variety of technologies such as
activated sludge, ponds, drainage and stabilization ponds and infiltration filters (Figure
4), but the lagoon technology remain the most used in the country due to their low
cost, simple maintenance and adaptation to climate conditions of this areas (Mandi,
2012). For this purification systems, more than half are not functional for many
reasons: technical, financial and human (Mandi, 2012). Such situation shows not only
delay that the country combined in this domain, but also contamination risks about
receiver environment in general and water resources in particular. Therefore, to protect
water resources and reduce the pollution, a national sanitation and sewage program is
developed to improve sewerage collection, the treatment of both industrial and
domestic wastewater, and increase the reuse.

FIG. 4. Distribution of different kind of wastewater treatment technologies existing in Morocco (Makhokh and
Bourziza, 2011).

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Reuse of treated wastewater

Cope with water deficit, high population growth, rapid urbanization and high
economic growth rates experienced by some arid climate countries such as Morocco;
wastewater can be considered a significant source of water and elements fertilizers.
The reuse of wastewater in agriculture can relieve the water traditional resources that
can't longer meet the needs of intensive agriculture and reduce the water deficit (Nigim
et al., 2002; Dadi, 2010).
In Morocco, wastewater reuse has been practiced for decades in many cities,
particularly in large urban centers such as Meknes, Fez, Marrakech, Taza and Oujda.
This has become important because of the arid climate in most parts of the country, but
also the interest it represents about the addition of fertilizers to irrigated plots (Fatta et
al., 2005). It should also be noted that the use of this water for agriculture will protect
water resources against the pollution generated by urban sewage (Personne et al.,1997;
Howard et al., 2003; Taylor, 2004; Oren et al., 2004; Eladdouli et al., 2009a; 2009b).
Currently, issues relating to the quality of the resource have been little
considered: The sanitation sector is experiencing a long delay and more than 90% of
wastewater is discharged into the environment (30% hydrographic network; soil and
subsoil 27%, 43% sea (Bzioui, 2007) without any treatment.
A part of the raw water discharged by continental cities is reused in agriculture.
It irrigates 7,235 ha in areas of horticulture, forage crops, tree crops and cereals
(Report on water resources in Morocco, 2004).
The works of El Halouani (1995), Bouhoum & Amahmid (2002), Choukr-
Allah (2005) on the reuse of raw wastewater in agriculture in Morocco, showed that
different cultures are considered by this practice, namely, forage crops, grain crops, the
orchards and vegetable crops. Until now, 80 Mm3 of TWW was reused in agriculture
in morocco, which presents 45% of the total volume of TWW (Table 1).
The use of these treated wastewater touch agriculture (currently covering an area
of about 550 hectares and will reach 4,000 hectares in 2020), watering golf courses and
green areas, groundwater recharge and recycling in industry. Regarding the low level
of wastewater use in agriculture, it is necessary to note that despite the interest shown
early by the Department of Agriculture for the reuse of treated wastewater for
agricultural purposes, efforts have not been followed for a rapid transition from
experimentation to the real application .
According to Belaid (2010), the use of treated wastewater would benefit the
whole of society, the environment and evacuators. The use of TWW not only increases
the efficient use of the water resource itself and the value added per unit volume of
water, but it also relieves the level of substances water courses. Even for evacuators,
the process is clearly positive. It allows them to organize the evacuation of more
effective and easier than is often possible in arid countries where water points are

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generally remote and have little water. At the same time wastewater suppliers can
obtain financial revenues that would not exist without the use of treated wastewater.
TABLE 1. Treated and reused waste water in Morocco (2010)
Raw sewage Treatment Treated wastewater Reused wastewater Used for
(Mm3/year) levels Mm3/year % Mm3/year %
700 Primary 37 5 0 0 Agriculture,
Secondary 84 12 47 56 green spaces,
Tertiary 56 8 33 59 groundwater
Total 177 25 80 45 recharging
and industry

Collecting wastewater and the removal of housing, sanitation networks ensure

the health protection of individuals and contribute to improving the quality of life
(Mara, 2001). However, their reuse in agriculture, without and without monitoring the
quality of water treatment, may present health risks to human health, livestock and the
environment (Seidu et al., 2008). It is therefore essential to ensure that prior
purification will aim to achieve a quality suitable for irrigation of agricultural land, in
accordance with standards established by WHO for this purpose. The type of treatment
process will depend on the nature of the waste water, climate and the respected
discharge standards (Delanoüe and Proulx, 1986), or, in the case of reuse in
agriculture, against standards reuse. These standards should focus on protection of
human health through the consumption of agricultural products irrigated with treated
wastewater (Salgot and Huertas, 2006).
This weakness in celerity can be attributed to several factors, including the
difficulty of establishing an institutional and legal instruments accepted by all
stakeholders as well as rules of sharing the costs of wastewater treatment between
municipalities (producers) and users (farmers).
National Water Strategy was approved by the government in 2010, it considers
that the wastewater reuse is an important resource in unconventional water and its
value should be placed in the context of integrated resource management water
nationwide.
The Green Morocco Plan
The Green Morocco Plan adopted in 2008, highlighted the structural water
deficits in most of the major agricultural production areas and considered the scarcity
of water resources as a major constraint to agricultural development.
To address the challenge of water scarcity, the Green Morocco Plan and the
National Water Strategy consider the management of water demand and water
efficiency as a priority strategic scope for sectors water and agriculture.
In this context of growing scarcity of conventional water resources, both water
and agriculture strategies consider mobilizing resources unconventional water

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including desalination of seawater and reuse of treated wastewater as an additional

resource to help alleviate local water deficits.

FERTILIZING POTENTIAL OF WASTEWATER

Role of nutrients and their concentrations in wastewater
Plant growth requires a supply of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium) and trace nutrients. The nitrogen is involved in the synthesis of amino
acids. It promotes the growth of plant tissue, making it an important factor of yield
(Amin, 2011). The nitrogen present in the wastewater from urban areas, whose main
source is urine, is found primarily in the ammonium and organic forms (Omenka,
2010). But, it is absorbed by plants only in mineral form, mainly nitrates. About 13 to
15 grams of nitrogen per person is rejected daily and 1/3 of which is in ammonium
form and 2/3 in organic form. The Nitrogen deficiency causes significant yield
reductions, hence the need to provide, if necessary, nitrogen supplements in the form
of mineral fertilizers (Farissi et al., 2014b). However, the nitrogen excessive amounts
could affect negatively the growth and yield, particularly on fruit and vegetable crops.
This causes plant overgrowth that delays fruit maturity and quality deteriorates (Ayers
& Westcot, 1985). This phenomenon is frequently observed in the case of agricultural
reuse of wastewater, when they have not been the subject of prior treatment may
reduce nitrogen loading (Chiou, 2008).
Phosphorus is a cellular component and an energy carrier (Bargaz et al., 2012).
As a cellular component, it participates with the nitrogen to plant growth, especially
root growth. It also promotes flowering, fruit set and seed formation (Soltner, 1996). It
is mainly found in domestic wastewater. It is present as a mineral consisting essentially
of orthophosphate (HPO42-, H2PO4-, H3PO4-) and, in smaller amounts, organic form.
Potassium is required for photosynthesis and protein synthesis. It also allows
the plant to drought tolerance (Farissi et al., 2013). A deficiency or excess of
potassium increases the sensitivity of the plant parasitism (Soltner, 1996). It is in
mineral form K+ in wastewater.
Micronutrients or trace elements are cofactors of many enzymes (He et al.,
2003). They are used in relatively small amounts compared to the three major nutrients
N, P, K Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are naturally present in soil, but an
exogenous supply may be necessary to achieve the expected crop yields.
Complementary inputs are generally done through synthetic fertilizers. These are
expensive and often inaccessible to small market farmers in poor countries (Latrach et
al., 2014c) who are thus frequently tempted to take advantage of the nutrients in the
wastewater.
The concentration of macronutrients wastewater has a daily and seasonal
variability (Vazquez-Montiel et al., 1996). It is also dependent on the nature and

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treatment applied. These are usually classified into four categories which refer mainly
to the type of pollutants covered (Vazquez-Montiel et al., 1996):
- Preliminary treatment or pre-treatment designed to remove solid waste relatively
large sizes.
- The primary treatments concern the reduction of suspended matter which part is
under biodegradable organic form.
- Secondary treatment; they are intended to supplement the reduction of organic waste,
to reduce the load of microorganisms and to remove some of the nitrogen and mineral
and organic phosphorus.
- Tertiary treatments that are the ultimate in a processing phase. They are often
designed to refine the treatment of secondary effluents by targeting a particular type of
pollutant.
The mineral nitrogen content of municipal wastewater after secondary treatment
is generally between 20 and 60 mg. l-1 (FAO, 2003). Larger values can however be
observed in for pond in treatment lagoon systems and up to 85 mg. l-1 (Bahri, 2002); in
this case, ammonia nitrogen, which is less leachable than nitrates, is usually
predominant, making it a nitrogenous reserves available for plants (Gaye & Niang,
2002; Vazquez-Montiel et al, 1996.).
The content of inorganic phosphorus (PO43-) in wastewater after secondary
treatment varies from 6 to 15 mg. l-1; 15 to 35 mg. l-1 of P2O5 (FAO, 2003). A recent
estimate of da Fonseca et al. (2007) showed a smaller range of variation (4.2 - 9.7 mg.
l-1 PO43-). Various studies mentioned the N/P/K concentrations of 12/0.6/16
(Kalavrouziotis et al., 2008), 42/4/52 (Bahri, 2002) and 30.09.37 (Vazquez-Montiel et
al., 1996).
For potassium, the concentration in effluents from secondary treatment varies
from 10 to 40 mg.l-1 (da Fonseca et al., 2007). The biological treatment systems such
as lagoons have very little influence on the elimination of this element.
Observed effects on growth and yield of crops
Because of their nutrient content and wealth of trace elements, wastewaters
when reused for irrigation, provoke higher yields of crops. In most cases, the studies
on the influence of wastewater on crops attest to accelerate plant growth and a
significant increase in yield, clearly associated with the intake of nutrients by
wastewater. In this context, Mohammad Rusan et al. (2007) found an increase in the
biomass of forage plant when irrigated by raw or treated wastwater. Yadav et al, 2002
reported a significant enrichment of trace elements in tissue cultured plants under
wastewater irrigation.
At the plant growth, Manios et al. (2006) conducted a study on tomato and
cucumber, testing three treatments: (i) wastewater with decreasing concentrations of
nitrogen, (ii) optimal nutrient solution and (iii) control treatment with tap water. The
growth parameters measured were stem height, number of leaves, biomass of leaves
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and stems, and root dry biomass. The results show that the agronomic parameters
studied were more improved under irrigation with wastewater containing the higher
nitrogen and irrigation with optimum nutrient solution comparatively to control
conditions. An increase in yield was observed both on cereal crops such as sorghum
(do Monte & e Sousa, 1992) and maize (Adekula & Okunade, 2002). However, Khuda
and Sarfraz (2005) reported that vegetables such as spinach, cabbage and cauliflower,
are better suited to irrigation with wastewater than root vegetables such as carrots,
turnips and radishes.

CONCLUSIONS
Morocco is a country where agriculture is a top priority being the most
important natural resource of the country. Unfortunately, the annual rainfall is very
irregular both in space and in time and almost all of the Moroccan territory belongs to
the arid storey, semi-arid and Saharan. This climate is responsible for a negative water
balance since evaporation outweighs precipitation (water deficit of around 1000 mm).
Taking into account all these factors, the recourse to irrigation is more than necessary
to ensure the best crop yields. Given the scarcity of these water resources and the
pressure of demand, the option is to reuse TWW. This abundant and regular resource is
the most appropriate strategy.

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