Wastewater reuse for farming boosts vegetables yield

There has been a robust reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture, a sector whose prominence has been increasing as part of the self-sufficiency initiatives, especially after the country came under unjust economic and trade embargo

The reuse of treated wastewater has significantly strengthened in Qatar’s agriculture sector from which as much as 10mn kg of local vegetables have been sourced during the current crop season.

The country uses the most modern membrane ultra-filtration system that helps in recycling of treated wastewater.

Qatar’s treated wastewater stood at 21.73mn cu m out of 22.28mn cu m of wastewater received in February this year, said the figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority.

The treated wastewater saw a 5.7% year-on-year growth; even as it shrank 8.9% monthon-month in February 2020.

There has been a robust reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture, a sector whose prominence has been increasing as part of the self-sufficiency initiatives, especially after the country came under unjust economic and trade embargo.

The treated wastewater used for agriculture had increased by a whopping 21.8% year-onyear to 7.07mn cu m, constituting one-third of the total treated wastewater this February. On a monthly basis, it however witnessed a 5% decline. The double-digit yearly growth in the re-usage of treated wastewater for agriculture in February 2020 also indicates the hydrocarbons-rich country’s green initiatives, a key parameter of sustainability.

Hassad Food subsidiary Mahaseel for Marketing and Agri Services has undertaken various measures to improve and expand the output in the farm sector with its far-sighted marketing and other support measures.

The treated wastewater reused in deep injection into aquifers registered 6.4% yearly expansion to 6.91mn cu m or 32% of the total treated wastewater in February 2020. On a monthly basis, it fell 4.4%.

The treated wastewater discharged into lagoons in February 2020 stood at 3.14mn cu m or 14% of the total treated wastewater. Such discharge saw 46.7% increase year-onyear but fell 31.2% on monthly basis.

The treated wastewater reused for irrigation of green spaces saw a 23.5% decline year-on-year to 4.62mn cu m, which accounted for 21% of total treated wastewater in February 2020; even as it reported a marginal 0.7% jump on a monthly basis. There was no discharge of treated wastewater into sea in February 2020.

The Water Centre at the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, has been helping Qatar in tackling its water security challenges by conducting research, development and innovation to enhance every step of the water cycle in Qatar.

Multiple projects are currently underway at the Water Centre, including water treatment for agricultural irrigation in desert climates, development of physical filtration systems such as membranes and filters, brine management, ballast water, characterisation of the sub-surface and soils, and strategies for managed aquifer recharge.