Page 171 - AJWEP-v22i3

Maghnia wastewater and risk assessment

situation worsened by climate change and demographic Wastewater reuse involves collecting municipal
dynamics. In 2022, 1.7 billion people consumed water effluent, treating it at a WWTP, storing it, and
contaminated with fecal matter, posing serious risks to distributing it for specific uses. Agricultural reuse of
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public health. Microbial contamination contributes to treated wastewater is a widely adopted practice with
approximately 505,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases decades of application across various countries, such as
annually, highlighting the critical need for safe drinking the United States, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Tunisia, Saudi
water and hygiene. 7 Arabia, Australia, South Africa, China, Italy, and Spain.
The increasing demand for water also degrades The volume of reused wastewater is growing annually
its quality, as pollution from industrial, agricultural, by more than 30% in Europe and over 40% in the United
and urban sources threatens both human health and States and China. Globally, approximately 20% of
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sustainable development. Globally, 80% of industrial treated wastewater is currently reused. 16
and municipal wastewater is discharged untreated, The objectives of wastewater reuse include
particularly in developing countries lacking adequate economic efficiency, technical feasibility, and resource
sanitation infrastructure. Pollution from various conservation. These goals involve the preservation
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sectors endangers drinking water sources, disrupts of natural resources by reducing withdrawals from
aquatic ecosystems, and threatens biodiversity. conventional water sources and limiting wastewater
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Diffuse pollution further contributes to eutrophication, discharge; reducing the need for fertilizers due to
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increased water treatment costs, public health hazards, the nutrient-rich content of treated water, particularly
and reduced recreational value of water bodies. 10 nitrogen and phosphorus; strengthening national
To address global water shortages, several non- capacities in integrated water management; and
conventional water management strategies are being meeting irrigation demands through reliable water
explored. Seawater desalination is a technologically availability. 18
advanced but capital-intensive and logistically complex Depending on the intended use, wastewater reuse
approach. Advanced wastewater treatment ensures can be classified into two main categories. Potable reuse
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ecological safety before environmental discharge. includes both direct reuse (after advanced treatment)
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Strategic reuse of treated wastewater is a cost- and indirect reuse (after environmental buffering, such
effective, simpler, and faster option that enhances water as aquifer recharge). Non-potable reuse is primarily
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sustainability and local resilience. 13 applied in industrial and agricultural contexts. In
Maghnia, a region in northwestern Algeria, is industrial settings, recycled water can meet up to 85%
particularly affected by water scarcity. It has an of demand, particularly in power generation and paper
irrigated agricultural area of 250 hectares. The reuse production, with regulatory frameworks guiding the
of treated wastewater from the Lagfafe wastewater quality requirements based on the application. In
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treatment plant (WWTP) presents a promising solution agriculture, which accounts for over 70% of global
to mitigate agricultural water shortages in the area. freshwater consumption, wastewater reuse presents the
The city depends on the Hammam Boughrara dam, greatest reuse potential in the short to medium term. 21,22
which has experienced significant reductions in storage To ensure public health and environmental safety,
volume due to prolonged drought, severely impacting wastewater reuse must be regulated. In response to
irrigation. Meanwhile, the treated effluent from the growing concerns, the WHO, the Food and Agriculture
Lagfafe WWTP is discharged into the environment Organization, and various countries have developed
without being reused. guidelines for safe reuse practices. The strategic
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This study aims to assess the quality of treated implementation of wastewater reuse offers multiple
wastewater from the Lagfafe WWTP and determine benefits. It supports the preservation of high-quality
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its compliance with Algerian standards for agricultural water sources and provides economic advantages for
reuse. By analyzing key physicochemical and farmers, including lower irrigation costs and reduced
microbiological parameters, the study evaluates fertilizer use due to the nutrient content of treated
whether the treated effluent is suitable for safe wastewater. It also ensures year-round water availability,
irrigation. Given the growing water scarcity in facilitating crop diversification and improved
Maghnia, this approach offers a sustainable alternative yields. Moreover, it stimulates the agri-food sector,
to conventional water sources. The findings aim to contributing to job creation and improved livelihoods.
support integrated and locally adapted water resource The development of the agricultural sector, in turn,
management strategies. stimulates growth in the commercial and agro-industrial

Volume 22 Issue 3 (2025) 165 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025120085