Palestinian experience with sewage sludge utilizing reed beds

Authors: Nassar, Abdel Majid¹; Smith, Mike²; Afifi, Samir³

Source: Water and Environment Journal, Volume 23, Number 1, March 2009 , pp. 75-82(8)

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Abstract:

Management of sewage sludge is one of the main environmental problems in Palestine. More than 400 m³/day of aerobic sludge and 5000 m³/year of anaerobic sludge are disposed of randomly in the Gaza Strip, creating several environmental and health problems. Because of the political-economic situation, a low cost system for sludge treatment has to be adopted. The results of a pilot project using a reed bed system in the Gaza Strip are promising. Sludge that accumulated in a reed bed system over a 3-year period was found to be well mineralized and composted, and suitable for land application. The water that drained from the reed bed was found to contain very low concentrations of suspended solids (SS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). This paper presents the results of a 3-year project using a reed bed for sewage sludge treatment in Gaza - Palestine. The quality of drained water and the quality and quantity of accumulated sludge were monitored in two drying beds, one planted with reeds and the other left as a conventional drying bed.

Keywords: Gaza; heavy metals; mineralization; nutrients; quality; quantity; reed bed; sludge

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-6593.2008.00135.x

Affiliations: 1: Civil Engineering Department, Islamic University Gaza, Gaza, The Palestinian Territories; 2: WEDC, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK; and 3: Environmental & Earth Science Department, Islamic University Gaza, Gaza, The Palestinian Territories

Publication date: 2009-03-01