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Case study

2022 • National Research Institute of Rural Engineering, Water and Forests, Tunisia Consumer buy-in and effluent quality-quantity in wastewater reuse

In Ouardanine, Tunisia, the use of treated wastewater for irrigation has been critical due to water scarcity. Farmers’ acceptance of wastewater reuse, primarily driven by economic necessity, has met challenges from low consumer acceptance of crops irrigated this way and inconsistent effluent quality. In response, adaptive strategies, including crop diversification and improved agricultural practices, were introduced. These initiatives enhanced productivity, resilience to water shortages, and economic stability while addressing health and consumer concerns.

Recovered Materials & Products

Nutrients
Fertilizer
Compost
Water

Waste Streams

Faecal sludge
Wastewater

Confirmed countries

Australia

Background and Context 

Location: Ouardanine, Governorate of Monastir, Tunisia. 

Resource Stream: Treated wastewater and dried sludge. 

Challenges:  

  • Seasonal water scarcity, particularly in summer. 
  • Poor-quality effluent caused by illegal industrial discharges. 
  • Consumer reluctance to purchase crops irrigated with wastewater due to perceived health risks. 

Technologies/Methods Used:  

Introduction of drip irrigation to minimize health risks. 
Use of dried sludge as compost to improve soil fertility. 
Diversification of crops to include less perishable and non-food crops (e.g., pomegranate, geranium). 

Stakeholders included farmers organized under Agricultural Development Groups; National Sanitation Utility providing treated wastewater; Regional agricultural authorities managing irrigation and monitoring water quality. 

Implementation Steps:  

  • Expansion of plant nursery areas. 
  • Replacement of peaches with crops like pomegranates and almonds to address consumer concerns. 
  • Adoption of adaptive irrigation techniques and reuse of treated wastewater. 

Outcomes and Impacts 

  • Increased diversity in crops, with a shift to geranium and pomegranate cultivation. 
  • Enhanced soil fertility through sludge composting. 
  • Improved consumer perception with safer crops like pomegranates. 
  • Boosted agricultural investments and economic returns. 
  • Greater resilience to water scarcity and variability in reclaimed water quality. 

Lessons Learned 

  • Building consumer trust is essential to the success of wastewater reuse projects. 
  • Crop diversification offers a practical way to mitigate the challenges of effluent quality variability and consumer acceptance. 
  • Long-term solutions require stronger regulations and quality standards for treated wastewater. 
     

Learn more

The text of the case study is available at the link below:
https://files.grida.no/sdm_downloads/1146-case-study-9/

This case study is extracted from the publication linked below: "Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution", UNEP (2023)

https://www.unep.org/resources/report/wastewater-turning-problem-solution#:~:text=This%20new%20report%2C%20%E2%80%9CWastewater%20-,blocks%2C%20described%20in%20the%20publication.

Technologies

Themes

Capacity building
Policy and regulation
Public acceptance