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The Use of Treated Wastewater in Converting Desert Regions: A Case-Study of

Dubai, U.A.E

Conference Paper · February 2014

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 The Use of Treated Wastewater in Converting Desert Regions: A Case-Study of
Dubai, U.A.E
Zainab Arulogun1, Serter Atabay2 and Md. Maruf Mortula3
1
American University of Sharjah (zarulogan@alumni.aus.edu)
2
American University of Sharjah satabay@aus.edu)
3
American University of Sharjah (mmortula@aus.edu)

ABSTRACT

The earth has a land surface area of 30% and of that proportion, up to a third or half of it can be classified as desert regions.
The combinations of climate change and careless human activities have caused the process of desertification, thus
increasing the desert regions. The earth’s population is increasing exponentially and arable land is fast becoming a scarce
resource. Traditionally, infertile lands have been irrigated by diverting water from a naturally occurring source such as
rivers. However, this practice is not sustainable as it impinges on another scarce resource, i.e. freshwater. Water is used
for daily activities and technological advancements have made it possible to collect the wastewater and treat it. Typically,
the treated wastewater is discharged into the sea but another alternative is for it to be reused as a water source for
irrigation. In the Middle East, there have been a growing number of deserts are converted to urban usage. The objective of
the paper was to assess the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigating desert lands. The U.A.E., with the Emirate of Dubai
in particular, was used as a case study for this purpose. Investigation was made based on the quality of the treated
wastewater, the usage of the irrigated land, suitable irrigation methods and the foreseeable problems that could arise from
this practice. Theoretical researches and information provided by the Dubai Municipality – quality reports of treated
wastewater effluent and wastewater discharge limits – were used to carry out the investigations. A superficial
Environmental Impact Assessment was performed, based on the available information to determine the benefits and
negative impacts as a result of this process.

Keywords: Desert, irrigation, treated wastewater

1. INTRODUCTION through the technological applications of irrigation

Since the beginning of time, one of man’s greatest
challenges is the problem of unlimited wants versus
limited resources. Perhaps centuries ago, it was not as
significant seeing as the world’s population were fewer
and spread further apart. However, over the past century,
the world’s population quadrupled to six billion people
and that figure is still growing [1]. People are migrating
more now than they have ever been therefore the number
of people per square meter in some regions has increased.
These people need houses, businesses, land for
agriculture, parks, etc. and thus land is fast becoming a
scarce resource.
Of the total earth’s land surface area, about 33% of it is
classified as deserts with conditions ranging from
semiarid regions to hyper-arid regions and if the
dry-sub-humid areas are included, that number increases
to 47% [2]. Historically, when faced with desert
conditions, the people have had to either adapt to their
surroundings or move to a place with better living
conditions. Given the current population, its growth rate,
and the fact that land as a resource is limited, the former
seems to be the more viable option. Advances in
technology and engineering have made it so that to an
extent, the effect of the desert conditions can be
minimized and the land can be put to various uses
systems.
The use of irrigation systems is not a new concept as it
has been practiced by societies in ancient Egypt,
Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and northern China over
5,000 years ago [3]. However, traditional irrigation was
carried out using a freshwater source by either building a
dam or diverting water from a nearby water-body. 70%
of the earth’s surface consists of water but only 4% of
that is freshwater and about 69% of that are trapped in ice
caps and glaciers [4]. This traditional method is not
sustainable as it is impinging on another scarce resource,
freshwater. Thus, wastewater is now being considered as
an alternate water source for irrigation. This paper
examines how the Emirate of Dubai has adopted the use
of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes.
2. EMIRATE OF DUBAI
2.1. Climate and Topography
Desert lands are by general definition, arid regions with
little rainfall which support only sparse and widely
spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all. The Emirate of
Dubai is one of the seven that makes up the United Arab
Emirate. The United Arab Emirates is located on the
eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the
Persian Gulf. It has a climate characterized by high
temperatures, humidity and low precipitation levels, thus
classifying it as arid and subtropical [4,5]. The
temperatures range from between 12°C in the winter
months and exceeding 45°C during the summer months.
The wettest months are February and March, with an
average annual rainfall of 5 to 10 centimeters [5]. The
topography of the United Arab Emirates is of a flat sandy
desert with the only exception being the easternmost
regions, in which there are mountains [5].

Figure 1 - Global Map of Aridity, Showing the UAE as an Arid Region [6]

2.2. Population Growth and Urbanization
Over half a century ago, the Emirate of Dubai was a
small fishing settlement but it has since grown to become
a cosmopolitan city and economic hub [7]. This growth is
as a result of the economic boom spurred by the
commercial exploration of oil - especially in the
neighboring Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1962 – which
attracted an immigrant workforce. In 1959, it had a
population of 59,000 but by the year 2011, the number
had increased to 1.9 million, with an estimated five
million visitors annually [4, 7].

Figure 2 - Dubai Urban Area Structure Plan, 1993 - 2015 [7]

In response to the population growth, the built-up area increased from a size of 3.2km2 in 1955 to 605km2 in
2004, with a planned expansion of an additional 501km2 process (in order) involved in the treatment plants in
by the year 2015[7]. Figure 2 above, shows the proposed Dubai from input of the waste water to the treated
growth of land use area to accommodate more human effluent are [11]:
activities.
- Mechanical Treatment: This is done to remove
2.3. Water Sources, Utilization and Consumption the physical waste from the waste water
- Biological Treatment: This is done to remove
As per a presentation by the Environment Agency – Abu the biological substances in the waste water
Dhabi, 72 percent of the water supply in the UAE is from - Tertiary Treatment: Further chemical
groundwater sources, 21 percent from desalination and 7 processing with filtration and disinfection,
percent from retreated water [4]. According to the data carried out to achieve a better quality of treated
presented by The World’s Water, the UAE has a waste water effluent
freshwater withdrawal of 4km3/year – of which 83
percent is diverted into the agricultural sector – but an A treated wastewater output quality report received from
average annual renewable freshwater source of the Dubai Municipality [12] is shown in Table 1 below:
0.2km3/year [8,9]. The domestic water demand in the
UAE averages 550 liters per person per day, a figure
more than double the global average of 250 liters per
person per day [4]. In order to meet the non-agricultural Effluent Water Effluent Water
water demands, the highly saline water of the Persian from S.T.P. from S.T.P.
Gulf is extracted and processed to make it potable and fit (After Post (After Post
for human use. Currently, Dubai has eight desalination Parameters Chlorination) Chlorination)
plants with a combined capacity of 400MIGD. Date of Sample
Collection 18/05/2009 26/07/2011
Type of Sample Spot Spot
Place of Collection STP STP
Total flow to the
Plant (average for
month) m3/day - 350,640
Elect. Conductivity
M.Mhos/cm 1715 1932
pH Value 7.0 6.6
Residual Chlorine
mg/L 4.6 2.5
Suspended Solids
mg/L 5.5 4.0
T.D.S. at 180 °C
Figure 3 - Desalinated Water Consumption by Sector mg/L 1033 969
– Dubai [8] Chlorides (Cl)
Figure 3 above shows the distribution of the desalinated mg/L 330 400
Sulphates (SO4)
water in Dubai, with private households accounting for
mg/L 113 148
about 60 percent of the water consumption [10]. Phosphates (P)
mg/L 5.7 3.7
3. USE OF TREATED T. Alkalinity as
WASTEWATER IN DUBAI CaCO3 mg/L 206 70
T. Hardness as
It is expected that the population growth in Dubai CaCO3 mg/L 182 250
increases by 6.3 percent yearly [4]. With the continuous Ammo. Nitrogen
population growth, land and water demand and mg/L 28.6 11.2
consumption are also expected to increase, thus further
T.O.N mg/L 2.8 19.9
stressing the already scarce resource. On the other hand,
this also implies that the amount of waste water Nitrite Nitrogen
generated is also on the increase. As previously (NO2N) mg/L - 0.56
mentioned the country is already turning to the use of Nitrate Nitrogen
retreated water, i.e. treated wastewater for uses in (NO3N) mg/L - 19.3
irrigation, cooling systems and decorative facilities, BOD5 mg/L 1.4 0.7
since the quality of treated wastewater output is not COD mg/L 44 24
sufficient for human consumption [11]. The typical
Calcium (Ca) mg/L 34.4 41.6 - Periodical monitoring for green spaces irrigated
Magnesium (Mg) by treated wastewater shall be conducted by
mg/L 23 35 Environmental Control Section in cooperation
with Dubai Central Laboratory, every sixth
Table 1: Treated Wastewater Chemical Analysis
months by collecting & analyzing samples of
Report
irrigated grasses in varied periods after the
The water contains various nutrients such as chlorides, completion of irrigation process.
sulphates, nitrogen, phosphates and a significant amount - Concerned parties should ensure that the public
of alkalinity and hardness. The chlorine is added at the shall not be exposed to irrigation water neither
plant for disinfectant purposes after it has been spray water nor irrigated green spaces by treated
dispatched. wastewater, in order to protect them from any
bacterial / fungal pollutant especially for the
Currently, the generated wastewater in the UAE amounts pathogenic type and worm eggs that can be
to 500 million cubic meters yearly, out of which 289 transmitted to human.
million cubic meters are treated and 248 million cubic - Irrigation process should be compatible with the
meters of the treated volume are reused [13]. The volume water holding capacity for soil, type of plants
of treated waste water not used is discharged into the and roots depth in order to reduce water
creek to maintain the water balance [11]. consumption and to avoid soil pollution and soil
saltiness, In addition to protect ground water
from any leaks can be reached from excess
3.1. Concerns Regarding Waste Water Reuse
usage of irrigation water.
The use of treated waste water for irrigation purposes, - Concerned party should implement necessary
medical test periodically for the people who are
relives the demand on the freshwater and desalination
in charge in irrigation processes.
sources. However, there are some concerns regarding its
- Dubai Municipality Acceptable limits should be
use which include:
followed in accordance with administration
legislation (30) of 2008 for restricted and
- Health Concerns
unrestricted irrigation as tabulated in Annex (1).
- Salinization
The standard limits (Annex 1) for treated wastewater to
There are general concerns about the presence of organic
be used for restricted and unrestricted irrigation as issued
pollutants and heavy metals present in the treated waste
by the Dubai Municipality are shown in Table 2 below:
water and the adverse effect they can have on human life.
Max. Limit Max. Limit
Salinization is as a direct result of water logging, which
for for
is a by-product of the irrigation process. If the drainage Symbol Unit
Unrestricted Restricted
of the soil is not adequate to properly disperse the water
Irrigation Irrigation
supplied for irrigation, it can cause the groundwater table
BOD5 mg/l 5 20
to rise. Once the groundwater table is at a depth close to
COD mg/l 150 200
the soil surface, salt water from the groundwater can be
transported to the surface through capillary rise. Once the TSS mg/l 15 30
water evaporates, it leaves a salt deposit behind which in TDS mg/l 2000 2000
the long-term will make the soil infertile and DO mg/l 4-5 3
unproductive [14]. One out of every five hectares of F.R.C. mg/l 1-2 1-2
irrigated land is losing productivity because of spreading pH mg/l 6-8 6-8
soil salinization [15]. Al mg/l 5 5
As mg/l 0.05 0.1
In a bid to control this, the Dubai Municipality has Ba mg/l 0.5 1
established regulations which govern the use of treated Be mg/l 0.1 0.3
waste water for irrigation purposes [16]. The regulations B mg/l 0.5 1
are enforced in order to protect the public health and they Cd mg/l 0.01 0.01
include the following rules: Cl mg/l 500 500
Cr (Hexa) mg/l 0.05 0.05
- Wastewater treatment station should meet the Co mg/l 0.05 0.05
standard limits for treated wastewater issued by Cu mg/l 0.5 1
Dubai Municipality (Annex 1). (See Table 2) Cn mg/l 0.05 0.05
- Treated wastewater should be at any point F mg/l 1 2
within the limits of Dubai Municipality starting Fe mg/l 1 5
from inlet point to the outlet point of irrigation Pb mg/l 0.1 0.2
network from both governmental and private Li mg/l 0.05 0.05
treatment facility stations.
 Mg mg/l 150 150 of the growing population. It can also be used for
Mn mg/l 0.1 0.5 creating a habitat for more plants and animals, thus
Hg mg/l 0.001 0.001 encouraging biodiversity in the area. To be able to do
Mo mg/l 0.01 0.05 more sustainably, the Emirate of Dubai will have to make
Ni mg/l 0.1 0.1 provisions in the near future to treat all and not just some
NH3 mg/l 5 10 of the generated wastewater, enforce its existing
NO3 mg/l 50 50 regulations and continuously educate its residents on the
N mg/l 5 50 importance of conservative water use.
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