13th IWA Specialized Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems

5th IWA Specialized Conference on Resources-Oriented Sanitation

*Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine,

Morocco

Benlouali Hajar*, Redouane Choukr-Allah, Harrouni Moulay Cherif,

Aziz Hirich, Mohamed Fallah

INTRODUCTION

Morocco is suffering from water scarcity. Water resources are estimated to be 700 m3/year/ capitata.Moroccan government initiated in 2006 the National Plan for Sanitation which aims partly to :

- Treat 80% of sewage in 2020 and 100% in 2030.- Reduce pollution by 60%.- Use 35% of reclaimed wastewater in irrigation of green spaces and golf courses.

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

As a part of the National Tourism Strategy, Marrakech has developed its golf sector. The city comprises nowadays 11 running golf courses and 7 under construction.

- TOURISTIC POTENTIAL

- ECONOMY

- WATER RESOURCES

A project of treatment and reuse of reclaimed wastewater in the irrigation of golf

courses has been initiated in 2008.

Our study presents the results of a survey carried out in 2015 in Marrakesh, in

order to assess the current situation of this reuse.

STUDY AREA CHARACTERISTICS

Climate: Arid continental

Table 1: Climatic data for Marrakesh (ClimWat, 2015)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Rain mm 27 34 30 33 20 4 1 2 5 18 37 25

Min T° °C 4.4 6.1 8.9 11.1 13.9 16.7 19.4 20 17.2 13.9 9.4 5.6

Max T° °C 18.3 20 23.3 26.1 28.9 33.3 38.3 37.8 33.3 28.3 22.,8 18.9

ETomm/day

1.82 2.45 3.56 4.34 5.1 5.84 7.01 6.8 5.12 3.56 2.26 1.76

Maximum precipitations occur in April and November while minimum rainfall is recorded in summer (June, July, August and September).

Monthly evapotranspiration: from 1.76 to7.01 mm/day ( average of 4.13 mm/day).

Monthly average temperature: from 4.4°C to 38.3°C.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

INVESTIGATION

(July/ August 2015)

-RADEEMA offices:

Political, financial, regulatory and technicalframeworks

-75% golf courses irrigating with reclaimed wastewaterin Marrakech ( Self administrated questionnaire/

Answers obtained on site)

Areas, water consumption, water storage structures, soil types, irrigation systems, turfgrass varieties, and hygienic measures taken to protect public and employees

CURRENT STATE OF THE TREATMENT AND REUSE OF RECLAIMED

WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

PROJECT OF TREATMENT AND

REUSE OF RECLAIMED

WASTEWATER

(1 Billion dirhams)

MOROCCAN GOVERNMENT

(12%)

GOLF COURSES PROMOTERS

(40%)STATE BOARD OF

MARRAKECH (RADEEMA)

(48%)

- Construction of a wastewater treatment plant (33 million m3/year)

- Construction of a distribution network (80 km).

Pre-treatment: grit and grease removal. Primary treatment: water decanting. Secondary treatment: Biological activation. Tertiary treatment: Coagulation and flocculation, sand filtration and disinfection by ultraviolet lamps and chlorine.

CURRENT STATE OF THE TREATMENT AND REUSE OF RECLAIMED

WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

GENERAL DATA (water consumption)

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

2012 2013 2014

Mo

nth

ly c

on

sum

pti

on

(m3

)

Figure 2: Golf courses monthly consumption of reclaimed wastewater (2012, 2013, 2014)

Total water consumption from April 2012 till August 2015 : 11.3 Mm3

Average Reclaimed wastewater consumption in surveyed golf courses : 16 000 m3/ha/year (ranging from 5,945 to 28,836 m3/ha.year). Reclaimed wastewater consumption in surveyed golf courses in Spain: 8 200 m3/ha.year).

Management practices

Technicalknowledge

of the course

manager

Marketpositioning

Golf course’s

equipment

ReclaimedWastewaterconsumption

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

GENERAL DATA (water consumption)

Golf courses equipped with irrigation Centralized management system: 100%Golf courses equipped Agro-meteorological station: 67% Golf courses equipped with soil humidity sensor: 33%

GOLF COURSES SURVEY (Irrigation system)

• Lakes ( 50 000 to 92 400 m3). Storage facilities

• 5 to 6 pumps with different flow rate. Pumping system

• Screen filtration (83%).

• Disc filtration (17%).Filtration system

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

GOLF COURSES SURVEY (Irrigation system)WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

020406080

100120

Filtration &

pumping

system

clogging

Algae growth Odors in lakes mosquitoes in

lakes

Sprinklers

breaking

Rust of

pumping

station

Per

cen

tag

e o

f g

olf

cou

rses

Figure: Percentage of golf courses surveyed facing negative impacts of reclaimed wastewater on storage lakes and irrigation system in Marrakesh

IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

GOLF COURSES SURVEY (Irrigation system)WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Aeration Fish culture Filtrationsystem

Pumpingstation

Lake Ultrasoundsystem

Foggertreatment

Lakesdepth

increase

Un

det

ake

n t

reat

me

nts

(%

)

Cleaning

IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

1. Sand and gravel filters are recommended before screen or disc filtration in order to remove suspended inorganic and organic fines.

Efficient filtration system

2. Automatic flushing for filter cleaning (Used by only 50% of golf courses)

Improuvement of water quality

1. Acid injection

Improuvement of Reclaimed wastewater storage

1. Aeration (reduces odors and increases dissolved oxygen)2. Storage in covered tank ( high costs of constructing but low costs of maintenance)3. Chemical treatment for algae.

RECOMMENDED MEASURES FOR WASTEWATER REUSE IN GOLF IRRIGATION

Soil :clayey in fairways, and sandy in greens.

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

SOIL MANAGEMENT

0

20

40

60

80

Soil compaction Black layer No problemsdetected

Soil's pH increase

Soil

pro

ble

ms

asse

sse

d (

%)

Figure 5: Responses of golf courses managers to negative impacts of reclaimed wastewater in golf courses in Marrakesh

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

SOIL MANAGEMENT

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Aeration Calciumtreatment

sulfur treatment gypsumtreatment

Leaching withwell water

Leaching withpotable waterP

erc

en

tage

of

golf

co

urs

es

(%)

Figure 6: Actions undertaken to overcome soil problems caused by irrigation with reclaimed

wastewater in surveyed golf courses in Marrakesh

All golf courses use Agrostis stolonifera. The use of Agrostis stolonifera was chosenfor its tolerance to various stresses, including drought, heat, frost and withstandinglow mowing heights (3 mm). 50% of respondents stated that reclaimed wastewaterdid not affect directly Agrostis stolonifera. Others claim it causes longer germinationperiods, fungal diseases, and rooting issues.

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

TURF MANAGEMENT

Generally, respondants claimed RWW didn’t have any direct effects on turf.

WATER MANAGEMENT OF GOLF COURSES UNDER IRRIGATION WITH

RECLAIMED WASTEWATER IN MARRAKESH

83%

17%

Fairway’s turfgrass

Paspalum pentium

Riviera bermuda

TURF MANAGEMENT

ISSUES FACED BY THE GOLF COURSES REUSING RECLAIMED

WASTEWATER

• Apart from signs that prohibit swimming in lakes without mentioning the source of the water and irrigation during closure time, no hygienic measures are taken by golf courses to protect clients. • 33% of respondents asked workers to put protection when they are in contact with reclaimed wastewater, but no hygienic measures were undertaken by employees.

HYGIENE MANAGEMENT

CONCLUSION

Reuse of reclaimed wastewater offer multiple benefits but present also some limits thatneeds appropriate management. As the golf industry tends to expand in Morocco, andmore golf courses will have to switch to reclaimed wastewater for irrigation, moreinvestigations must be undertaken in order to have a national guidelines and best

practices of reusing reclaimed wastewater in the golf industry.

Thanks for your attention !

BENLOUALI Hajar Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine,MoroccoPhone: +212 6 18 99 59 69E-mail: h.benlouali@gmail.com