Qatar's treated wastewater stood at 22.11mn cubic metres out of 22.34mn cubic metres of wastewater received in September this year, according to the data of the Planning and Statistics Authority.
The country uses the most modern membrane ultra-filtration system that helps in the recycling of treated wastewater.
The treated wastewater saw an 11.4% and 6.5% month-on-month and year-on-year decline respectively in the review period.
Nevertheless, there has been an overall robust reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture, a sector that has received increased thrust and support from the government as part of the self-sustaining initiatives, especially after the country came under unjust economic and trade embargo.
The treated wastewater reused in agriculture amounted to 7.25mn cubic metres, which accounted for 33% of the total treated wastewater this September (against 31% in August 2020). The reuse in the farm sector, however, witnessed 6.8% and 9% decline on monthly and yearly basis respectively.
Qatari agricultural produce reached 92,000 tonnes and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment aims to locally produce 70% of the market needs by 2023.
“The local farms have helped increase the self-sufficiency rate of Qatar in agricultural production to 33%, doubling the production compared to three years ago,” Director of the Food Security Department, Masoud Jarallah al-Marri, had said.
The re-use of treated wastewater for agriculture hints at the hydrocarbons-rich country's Green initiatives, a key parameter of sustainable development.
The treated wastewater reused for irrigation of green spaces witnessed about 12% growth to 8.04mn cubic metres, which accounted for 36% of the total treated wastewater. On a monthly basis, the reuse for irrigation of green spaces saw 19.2% shrinkage.
The treated wastewater reused in deep injection into aquifers registered 18.6% and 12.6% decline month-on-month and year-on-year to 4.87mn cubic metres, which accounted for 22% of the total treated wastewater in September 2020.
The treated wastewater discharged into lagoons in September this year stood at 1.95mn cubic metres or 9% of the total treated wastewater reused against 7% in August 2020. Such discharge saw 19% increase month-on-month but shrank 22.3% on a yearly basis.
There was no discharge of treated wastewater into sea in September 2020.
The PSA bulletin said the water produced was 60.88mn cubic metres, growing 2.3% year-on-year in September 2020; while consumption was up 2.8% to 59.7mn cubic metres.
Related Story