An-Najah Staff

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of a gradual multi-stage vertical flow hydroponic system as an option for decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse. The low cost of such option and the ease of its application make it feasible for rural areas where low cost decentralized options of wastewater treatment and reuse have a great potential in improving environmental and economic conditions in these areas. To evaluate the performance of such option, a five-stage vertical flow gradual hydroponic pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in the new campus of An-Najah National University. The experiment included five types of plants: two types of corn, barely, alfalfa, and sunflowers. Wastewater flow was applied through a drip system for the five types of plants. Wastewater was drained by gravity from one pot to the next through a gradual vertical flow hydroponic system. Quality of wastewater entering the first pot and leaving the last pot for each set of plants was monitored throughout the growing season. Results showed an over 90% removal efficiency of soluble organics and suspended solids, and about 60% removal efficiency of nitrogen through the system. The proposed gradual hydroponic treatment system was proved to be a successful alternative method to treat and reuse wastewater. Thus, gradual hydroponic systems could be successfully used as small decentralized wastewater treatment systems. This system could be used in producing crops with economic returns in Palestinian rural areas, where agriculture has a significant contribution in the income and employment of communities.

The reuse of treated wastewater offers opportunities to reduce the demand for scarce potable water resources. Importantly, social acceptance poses a barrier to the effective use of this resource should the concept not be comprehensively presented. This research highlights the potential for reuse of wastewater, identifies the areas of concern and examines the most important factors that affect wastewater reuse in the West Bank, Palestine. The most important factors considered are social, religious, economic, health, political, freshwater scarcity and institutional framework. It is found that traditions have negative effect on the acceptance of wastewater reuse. The psychological factor is negatively affecting the opinion of the community. Public awareness is weak and the information provided is not sufficient. The research will contribute to the improvement of the environment and sustainable development of the West Bank and proposes guidelines for a strategic plan for wastewater reuse.

The increase in demand for the limited raw water resources in the Palestinian Territories has led to the proposals for use of treated wastewater as one alternative for alleviating water shortages and for optimizing the use of water resources. Wastewater reuse is a multi-discipline and important element of water resources development. Wastewater usage releases high quality water for drinking and other purposes. Quantitative, economic, and social aspects related to wastewater reuse in the West Bank are discussed. Through analyses of the estimated cost and expected water quantities, the paper investigates the economic feasibility of wastewater reuse. Social acceptance is elicited by means of questionnaires, which have been applied to farmers and inhabitants in different areas of the West Bank. Wastewater reuse can compensate for about 10 percent of irrigated agriculture, which contributes 35 percent of the total value of the Palestinian agricultural sector. The paper presents an analysis of the main aspects of wastewater reuse and defines an approach to the beneficial use of wastewater as a component that should be considered in the strategy for the overall management of water resources in the Palestinian Territories.

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of a gradual multi-stage vertical flow hydroponic system as an option for decentralized wastewater treatment and reuse. The low cost of such option and the ease of its application make it feasible for rural areas where low cost decentralized options of wastewater treatment and reuse have a great potential in improving environmental and economic conditions in these areas. To evaluate the performance of such option, a five-stage vertical flow gradual hydroponic pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in the new campus of An-Najah National University. The experiment included five types of plants: two types of corn, barely, alfalfa, and sunflowers. Wastewater flow was applied through a drip system for the five types of plants. Wastewater was drained by gravity from one pot to the next through a gradual vertical flow hydroponic system. Quality of wastewater entering the first pot and leaving the last pot for each set of plants was monitored throughout the growing season. Results showed an over 90% removal efficiency of soluble organics and suspended solids, and about 60% removal efficiency of nitrogen through the system. The proposed gradual hydroponic treatment system was proved to be a successful alternative method to treat and reuse wastewater. Thus, gradual hydroponic systems could be successfully used as small decentralized wastewater treatment systems. This system could be used in producing crops with economic returns in Palestinian rural areas, where agriculture has a significant contribution in the income and employment of communities.

Recently, wastewater reuse is receiving a great deal of focus and interest among planners and decision makers in the West Bank, Palestine. This interest in wastewater reuse is motivated by the shortage in water resources accessibility due to the unstable political situation in the region. Much of the recent dispute that took place at the national level and among the stakeholders and planners revolved around issues related to the priorities of wastewater reuse in terms of location implementation of reuse schemes. The paper illustrates the conceptual framework for developing such a map and elaborates on the factors that dictate map development. Examples of such factors are discussed. The paper’s outcomes show that the development of the map requires a multi-disciplinary expertise and the work necessitates the collaboration among experts from different fields.

There is a critical lack of sanitation in the West Bank (Palestine).Most domestic sewage is disposed of into unlined cesspits or septic tanks, or directly discharged to the environment without treatment. Water resources in the West Bank are limited, and nearly 70% of the water is used for agricultural irrigation. Reuse of treated (reclaimed) wastewater has great potential to alleviate these problems and improve crop yield, but there are many challenges to implementing wastewater reuse. This paper presents a case study in the West Bank town of Tubas, which currently has no sewage collection system or treatment. This study includes traditional engineering design and will address socio-cultural issues through a detailed survey of public perceptions about reclaimed wastewater and an education plan for the various stakeholders in the town. This approach should lead to a wastewater reuse system that is beneficial to Tubas as well as sustainable.

There is a critical lack of sanitation in the West Bank (Palestine).Most domestic sewage is disposed of into unlined cesspits or septic tanks, or directly discharged to the environment without treatment. Water resources in the West Bank are limited, and nearly 70% of the water is used for agricultural irrigation. Reuse of treated (reclaimed) wastewater has great potential to alleviate these problems and improve crop yield, but there are many challenges to implementing wastewater reuse. This paper presents a case study in the West Bank town of Tubas, which currently has no sewage collection system or treatment. This study includes traditional engineering design and will address socio-cultural issues through a detailed survey of public perceptions about reclaimed wastewater and an education plan for the various stakeholders in the town. This approach should lead to a wastewater reuse system that is beneficial to Tubas as well as sustainable.