Quality aspects of reclaimed domestic wastewater in Jordan

In this paper, a summary of Jordan’s experience as a developing country managing the quality of reclaimed wastewater is presented and linked to water related issues. Jordan is an arid to semi-arid country: more than 90 percent of Jordan receives less than 200 mm of rainfall per year and approximately 85 percent of the total average rainfall in Jordan is lost to evaporation. The remaining rainfall recharges ground water and contributes to rivers, wadi flows, and reservoirs. In many Jordanian cities, residents receive water only sporadically, and domestic water consumption is among the lowest in the world, at a rate of less than 100 litres per capita per day. With the advent of industrialization and increasing populations, the range of requirements for water has increased together with greater demands for higher quantity and quality of water. The most feasible options for reducing the gap between water demand and supply include: improved management of existing water resources, treating wastewater for reuse, and the rehabilitation of existing water sources. At the national level, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation is responsible for administering water policy, pollution control and managing water resources. This paper examines different aspects of reclaimed domestic wastewater in Jordan and shows how this important resource has been considered by Jordan government, through treatment plants, integrated resources and information and management systems. Specifically, the following topics are addressed: definitions of wastewater; government policy Reclaimed wastewater standard no.893/2002: the means and ways to protect water resources from the effect of wastewater quality deterioration; physical, chemical and biological properties of wastewater; monitoring activities, treatment plants efficiencies and costs of treatment. The paper ends with conclusions and recommendations.