Page 1 of 22

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 11

December 2015

Page | 90 Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

Challenges for the Wastewater Management System in

AlQurayyat, Al-Jouf Region, Northern KSA

Ahmed M. El-Naggar

Department of Applied Medical Sciences, Community College in Al-Qurayyat,

Al-Jouf University, KSA

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate

the wastewater management system in

AlQurayyat, with primary focus on the

efficacy of the treatment plant that was

operated 30 years ago. One of the objectives

of the study is to throw light on the

environmental consequences of wastewater

and suggest innovative, novel solutions to

this problem. Approximately 4000000 m3

of

wastewater comes from localities served by

the sewerage system every year. About

6000000 m3

of the total wastewater comes

from the localities lacking any sewerage

system services. About 20% of the

wastewater discharges from such localities

is transferred by truck tankers and dumped

directly into open fields nearby Kaf village.

Approximately 95% of the total existing

waste flow is treated by a single treatment

plant acquiring a capacity of 300 m3

/hour

(8500 m3

/day). The raw sewage arriving to

the plant varies markedly according to the

human consumption and seasonal rainfall. A

mean value of 900 m3

/hour was recorded

during January 2015. In 2014, more than

5000000 cubic meters of the wastewater

were dumped either into a man-made pond

or an open field nearby Kaf village, 15 Km

northern AlQurayyat. Successful and

sustainable management of wastewater

requires a composite of innovative projects,

for example innovative financing of

appropriate wastewater infrastructure

(design, construction, operation,

maintenance, and upgrading). Thinking to

the long-term and creating solutions for

smart wastewater management in the light

of rapid global change is strongly

recommended. Strategic planning in the

water sector must be appropriate at the

social, cultural, economic and

environmental scales.

INTRODUCTION

Water availability, safety and

profitability is the primary objective of the

Page 2 of 22

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 11

December 2015

Page | 91 Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

Ministry of Water and Electricity in Saudi

Arabia. The developing countries have poor

wastewater management strategies, where

the collected wastewater is returned to the

surface water body directly without an

adequate treatment, leading to reduction of

the water quality and deterioration of the

environment (Markandya, 2004). Organic

matter accumulated in the untreated

wastewater produces malodorous gases.

Moreover, untreated wastewater comprises a

collection of pathogenic microorganisms.

Wastewater also contains nutrients,

stimulating the growth of aquatic plants, and

may contain toxic and probably mutagenic

or carcinogenic compounds. The organic

component of the wastewater comprises

proteins (5%), carbohydrates (40%), fats and

oils (10%) and trace amounts of pollutants

and surfactants (Shon et al., 2006). Ellis

(2004) showed that the microbiology of the

sewage often contains 105-108 colony

forming unit (CFU)/mL of coliform

organisms, 103-104 CFU/mL fecal

streptococci, 101-103 protozoan cysts and

101-102 virus particles.

Organic matter is the major

contaminant in wastewater. Organic matter

is measured as BOD and COD. The COD

analysis measures through chemical

oxidation by dichromate the majority of the

organic matter present in the sample. COD

measurements are needed for mass balances

in wastewater treatment. The COD content

can be subdivided into fractions useful for

consideration in relation to the design of

treatment processes. Suspended and soluble

COD measurement is very useful. Beware of

the false COD measurement with

permanganate, since this method only

measures part of the organic matter, and

should only be used in relation to planning

of the BOD analysis.

Failing sewerage network and

improper wastewater treatment systems

allow massive nutrients to leak into lakes

and streams, promoting the proliferation of

algal blooms and vegetation growth.

Synthetic cleaning products and other

chemicals used in the home can be toxic to

humans and wildlife. These products may

reach groundwater sources and modify its

nature. Furthermore, several brands of

bacteria and viruses in the sewage are

pathogenic. Unfortunately, numerous

unsewered communities exist around lakes,

whereby the biological degradation of the

organic matter and population growth of

insects and pathogens are maximized.

Immediate and proper purification of

Page 3 of 22

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 11

December 2015

Page | 92 Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

wastewater followed by reuse or dispersal

into the environment is important to protect

the public health and environment

sanitation. Thousands of complaints of

unpleasant odour and irritation-induced

mosquitoes are received annually by local

authorities of AlQurayyat.

The present investigation aims to

evaluate the wastewater management system

in AlQurayyat, with a primary focus on the

efficacy of the wastewater treatment plant

that was operated 30 years ago. One of the

objectives of the present study is to throw

light on the environmental consequences of

the wastewater discharges in AlQurayyat

and to suggest innovative, novel solutions to

this problem, with the belief that advances in

sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene

could have onward greater influence on the

human health than medical technology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area:

A large man-made watershed (Figure

1) is connected to AlQurayyat wastewater

treatment plant (Figures 2 and 3) that

receives the wastewater discharged from the

homes connected to the sewerage network.

The watershed measures approximately 5

km in length and ranges in depth from few

centimeters to a few meters. A heavy plant

cover formed mainly of common reed and

giant reed was recognized in the middle area

of the watershed (Figure 4). The watershed

is a breeding ground for a variety of animals

and reptiles. Swarms of the wild pigeon and

gulls were seen hovering over the surface of

the watershed. Moreover, many wagtails

were observed. Reptiles such as snakes and

lizards and mammals such as wild fox and

the Arabian wolf are common in the study

area. Thousands of Moorhens (marsh hens)

were frequently encountered in the close

proximity of the reeds. They were seen

nestling on the banks of the watershed

between aquatic weeds. The water gains a

grayish to brownish colour. The margins of

the watershed showed extensive brownish

vegetation (slime). The soil in the close

proximity of the watershed is lodged with

water and shows extensive salt deposits

(Figure 5). Populations of the anopheles

mosquitoes were seen aggregated in clusters

on the coast line of the lake (Figures 6 and

7), indicating that the pond is a favourable

breeding ground for these disease causing

vectors. An open field (Figure 8) is located

15 Km northeastern AlQurayyat in which