A Benefit-Cost Analysis of Treated Wastewater Reuse for Irrigation in Tubas

The West Bank, Palestine suffers from water scarcity due to the high population growth rate, the political situation that dictates the utilization and development of the water resources and the arid and semiarid climate conditions. Reuse of treated wastewater can be a source of water for the irrigation of agricultural crops and thus this will lessen the stress on the water resources, increase the agricultural productivity and prevent the pollution of the soil and groundwater. In Tubas City, there is a shortage of water due to the increase in water demand (domestic and agricultural). Raw wastewater is discharged into wadies and which has a negative impact on groundwater resources. Treated wastewater reuse is expected to become a potential solution for this shortage in water availability and environmental problems. This work investigated the feasibility of reusing treated wastewater for irrigation in the Tubas area. A questionnaire was distributed to analyze the public opinion toward the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and the corresponding reuse of the treated wastewater in agricultural irrigation. Thereafter, a benefit-cost analysis was carried out to estimate the cost of the reuse of the treated wastewater in Tubas area. The study considered five options for wastewater treatment in Tubas area: construction of a treatment plant for the wastewater originating from the north of Tubas, south of Tubas, north of Tubas and Tayaser village, all of Tubas, and all of Tubas and Tayaser village, respectively. The study analyzed three systems for secondary wastewater treatment: activated sludge (AS), trickling filter (TF) and aerated lagoons (AL). The results of the questionnaire showed that the majority of responders support the idea of having a wastewater treatment plant in Tubas. The results of the benefit- cost analysis showed that the total costs (US$/m³) for the AS treatment for the five options are: 1.73, 1.93, 1.65, 1.57 and 1.52, respectively in 2010. The total costs (US$/m³) for the TF treatment for the five options are: 1.55, 1.72, 1.47, 1.41 and 1.36, respectively in 2010. The total costs (US$/m³) for the AL treatment for the five options are: 1.39, 1.54, 1.32, 1.27 and 1.24, respectively in 2010.