Water reuse in the Middle East and North Africa: A source book

Abstract

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is considered the most water-scarce region in the world. Currently, the average renewable water resources availability per capita is one-tenth of the worldwide average. Twelve of the world’s 15 most water-stressed countries are in the MENA region. Increasing water scarcity and pollution is becoming a major concern. The water crisis is creating competition for water between sectors and countries with threats to social stability, peace, economic growth, and ecosystems. It is expected that water scarcity will be exacerbated as a result of population growth, changing lifestyles, and the impacts of climate change in some regions, and governments and international organizations are all looking for solutions. Countries need to urgently adapt to this situation and one promising solution for increasing water supply is the smart reuse of treated water. As this book highlights, the number of (direct) water reuse projects has doubled every decade since 1990, and there are more than 400 operational projects now in the MENA region. Nevertheless, the potential for resource recovery from municipal wastewater in the MENA region is still untapped. Despite the progress, only 10–11% of the municipal wastewater generated in the region is treated and reused directly, while 36% is reused indirectly, mostly in an informal and unsafe manner due to limited water treatment. Approximately 54% of municipal wastewater is discharged into the ocean or evaporated with no productive use.