كتابة أمير دقاق 

شهد العام 2013 تحول في التاريخ عندما اجتاحت العاصفة اليكسا منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقياحيث
 جلبت العواصف الثلجية والأمطار الغزيرة والرياح الجليدية لهذه المنطقة التي لم تشهد مثل هذه العاصفة منذ أكثر من 100 عام.  حيث تسببت العاصفة اليكسا بالفيضانات المدمرة في المدن العربية، مثل غزة، وانقطاع التيار الكهربائي في بعض مناطق الأردن.و تساقطت الثلوج بغزارة في الأردن و التي  غطت الشوارع، مما أعاق الحركة واجبرت الناس على المكوث في منازلهم لعدة أيام.  لقد جلبت هذه العاصفة أيضا المشقة والبؤس لللاجئين السوريين حيث  عانوا البرد القارس في خيام هشة وملاجئ مؤقتة

الجوانب الايجابيه

لا نريد التقليل من شأن  الصعوبات و المعاناه الانفه الذكر التي تسببت بها اليكسا الا ان  مثل هذه العاصفه من شأنها ان تكون مفيده من جانب واحد الا وهو كميه المياه التي جلبت للمنطقة. لقد جلبت العاصفة اليكسا  وفره من المياه لمنطقه تعاني من شح شديد فيه. تأثيرات شح المياه اصبحت محسوسه بشكل واضح وسريع في جميع انحاء المنطقه,حيث تؤثر على بلدان مثل الاردن ومصر وفلسطين. وبالتالي فأن هذا الانهمار من الماء  يمكن ان يجلب بعض الراحه من حيث  وفره المياه مع جريان مياه الامطار وتساقط الثلوج الذي يعد مصدرا للمياه العذبه

ولكن للاسف فأن هذه المصادر اديرت بصوره سيئه جدا مما تسببت بحدوث الفيضانات و اغلاق الطرق والشوارع بالثلوج. مياه الامطار الفائضه اختلطت مع مياه الصرف الصحي مسببه فيضان من مياه الصرف الصحي غمرت جميع انحاء المدن و البلدات المحليه . مما نتج عن ذلك حدوث مشاكل صحيه ضاره بين السكان المقيمين, الذين دعوا  للخروج بحلول سريعه  لمعاناتهم

حل واحد يمكن استخدامه الا و هوحصاد مياه الفيضان و كميات الثلوج الكبيره. حصاد مثل مصادر المياه هذه  من شانه ان يقلل من اثار ندره المياه و الحد من الاضرار الماديه  للمدن و البلديات
.حالما يتم جمع مصادر المياه هذه , وجب عليهم معالجتها قبل استعمالها .و ما ان تتم معالجتها يمكن استخدام المياه في نشاطات متنوعه كالري او اي نوع من الاستخدامات المنزليه

دراسه حاله – عمان

على مدار العاصفة ، شهدت عمان كميات وافرة من الثلوج والأمطار التي وضعت المدينة في ما بدا وكأنه طريق مسدود. وقد اضحى السكان غير قادر على الذهاب إلى العمل وأداء روتينهم اليومي . وقد غطت الثلوج  الشوارع التي وصلت إلى 3 أقدام ، مما جعل من الصعب جدا التنقل عليها . على الرغم من أن تساقط الثلوج كان له  تداعياته الضارة ، فهو مصدر للمياه العذبة . أن حصاد تلك المياه و الثلوج التي انهمرت  كان يمكن ان يكون إجراء بسيط نسبيا من شأنه ان يجنب  المدينه من الطريق المسدود التي وصلت اليه.

ان مثل هذا  الإجراء يتطلب قوى عاملة ، جنبا إلى جنب مع شاحنات ناقله ، لتعين الخروج إلى الشوارع و البدء في جمع أكبر قدر ممكن من الثلوج .حالما يتم جمعها، سيتم نقلها إلى أقرب محطة لمعالجة مياه الصرف الصحي ، مثل محطة معالجة مياه صرف السمرة التي  تقع في  منطقه عمان الرصيفة الزرقاء الكبرى (هناك حاليا 26 محطه معالجة مياه الصرف الصحي في الأردن) .حالما يتم  معالجتها فان  المياه المنتجة يمكن أن تضاف إلى منظومه شبكه أنابيب المياه وتوزيعها على البيوت

:حصاد ومعالجة هذه المصادر المائية تخفف من آثار ندرة المياه حتى لو لفترة زمنية قصيرة. فهو مفيد من حيث عدة طرق

(تتيح لطبقات المياه الجوفية و الأنهار الوقت للتجديد (حتى لو لفترة قصيرة

(يقلل من التكاليف المالية التي تنفق على استخراج المياه (لفترة زمنية قصيرة

(يقلل من كمية الوقود الأحفوري المستخدم أثناء استخراج المياه (الحد من اطلاق غاز  ثاني اوكسيد الكربون

.ازاله الثلوج من الشوارع  التي تمكن الناس من العوده إلى روتين حياتهم اليومية  و عملهم

للتغلب على التحديات

وغني عن القول ، معالجة مياه الصرف الصحي لديها جوانبها السيئه . الأولى، هي الطاقة المكثفة و متطلباتها الماليه. وثانيها ، فإنه يتطلب قدرات تكنولوجية متقدمة للغاية.اما الثالث ، فانها تتطلب مساحة كبيرة لتنفيذها. باستثناء الأردن و مقدار قليل من دول اخرى في المنطقة ،  ليس الكثير منهم لديه القدرات الاقتصادية والتكنولوجية للخضوع لمثل  هذا النوع  من إدارة المياه. تتفاقم المشكلة من جراء الصراع السياسي في المنطقة التي تشهده حاليا . دول مثل سوريا وفلسطين لديها قيود سياسية أكثر من غيرها  والتي لا تسمح لها باستخدام هذا المصدر المائي لكامل إمكاناتها

 ومع ذلك ، هناك طرق أبسط لمعالجة مياه الصرف الصحي التي لا تعتمد بشدة اقتصاديا و تقنيا.مثل هذه التقنيات تتطلب مساحة كبيرة حيث يسمح  لمياه الأمطار الزائدة بتخزينها لفترة معينة من الزمن، والذي يسمح للاوساخ بالاستقرار في الجزء السفلي من المنطقة ( التي يتم فيها تخزين المياه). ثم يتم تمرير المياه من خلال شاشة تصفية كبيرة تزيل الاوساخ المتبقية و البكتيريا من الماء. هذه الطريقه لا تعالج المياه كما تعالجها محطات معالجة مياه الصرف الصحي ، لكنها تعالج بما يكفي من أجل إعادة استخدامها لمماراسات معينه مثل الري والغسالات، والاستحمام
 
الخلاصه

مع اعلان الأمم المتحدة عام 2013 "السنة الدولية لتعاون المياه" ,أصبحت ندرة المياه التهديد الأكثر حاليا الذي يواجهه العالم. ندرة المياه  الاكثر حده في منطقة الشرق الأوسط  حيث لا يملك سوى 1٪ من موارد المياه الصالحة للاستخدام في العالم، في حين وجود 5٪ من سكان العالم في هذه المنطقه. ومع زياده تعداد  سكان منطقه الشرق الاوسط أبعد من ذلك، فأن  من المرجح ان تزيد ندرة المياه, مع توقعات تشير إلى أن منطقة الشرق الأوسط  سوف  تنفذ من المياه بحلول عام 2050

 
ترجمة

سلام عبدالكريم عبابنه

مهندسه مدنية في شركة المسار المتحده للمقاولات – مهتمه في مجال البيئه و الطاقة المتجدده

 :يمكن العثور على هذه المقالة على موقع
http://www.ecomena.org/storm-alexa-ar/

By Amir Dakkak

The year 2013 saw history being made when storm Alexa swept across the Middle East and North Africa bringing blizzards, torrential rain and icy winds to a region that hasn’t experienced such a storm in over 100 years. Storm Alexa caused devastating floods in cities such as Gaza, and power cuts in certain areas of Jordan. Heavy snowfall in Jordan covered the streets, hindering mobility and forcing people into their homes for several days. The storm has also brought hardship and misery upon the Syrian refugees enduring the bitter cold in fragile tents and makeshift shelters.

However, with no intention of belittling or undermining the aforementioned difficulties and suffering, such a storm could be beneficial in terms of one aspect: the water it brings to the region. Storm Alexa brought an abundance of water to a region suffering from severe water scarcity. The effects of water scarcity are rapidly being felt across the region, with water shortages affecting countries such as Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan. Therefore, this outpour of water could bring some respite in terms of water availability, with rainwater runoff and snowfall being large sources of fresh water. Sadly these sources have been very poorly managed causing floods, and snow covered streets. Flooded rainwater has mixed with wastewater triggering an overflow of wastewater throughout local cities and towns. This has produced adverse health problems among the resident populations, who are calling out for rapid solutions to their strife. One solution that can be utilized is harvesting floodwater and the large amounts of snowfall available. Harvesting such water sources would help reduce the effects of water scarcity, and reduce physical harm to cities and towns. Once these water sources are collected, they must be treated before they are reused. Once treated, the water can be used for a variety of water intensive activities such as irrigation or any type of domestic use.

A cry for wastewater management, case study: Amman, Jordan

Over the course of the storm, Amman has seen ample amounts of snow and rainfall that have put the city in what seemed like a standstill. Residents were snowed in unable to go to work and perform their daily routines. The streets were covered with snow that reached up to 3 feet, making it very difficult to move about. Although the snowfall had its detrimental repercussions, it is a source of fresh water.  Harvesting it would have been a fairly simple procedure. The procedure would require manpower, along with trucks, to set out to the streets and start collecting as much snow as possible. Once collected, it would be transported to the nearest wastewater treatment plant, such as the Samra wastewater plant located in the greater Amman Russeifa-Zarqa area (there are currently 26 wastewater treatment plants that exist in Jordan). Once treated the water produced can be added into the water pipe systems and distributed among households. Harvesting and treating these water sources eases the effects of water scarcity even if for a short time period. This is beneficial in 4 ways:

1.     It allows over used water aquifers and rivers time to replenish (even if for a short period).

2.     It reduces the financial costs spent on water extraction (for a short time period).

3.     It reduces the amount of fossil fuels used during water extraction (reducing CO2 release).

4.     It removes snow off the streets allowing people to go back to their daily routines, and to their work.

Of course wastewater treatment has its downsides. First, it is energy intensive and financially demanding. Second, it requires very advanced technological capabilities. Third, it requires a large area in which it is to be implemented. With the exception of Jordan and a handful of other countries in the region, not many have the economic and technological capabilities to undergo this type water management. The problem is further exacerbated by the political strife the region is currently experiencing. Countries such as Syria and Palestine have more political constraints than others that do not allow them to use this water source to its full potential. 

However, there are simpler ways to treat wastewater that are not so economically and technologically reliant. Such techniques require a large area where the excess rainwater is allowed to be stored for a certain period of time, which allows the waste to settle at the bottom of the area (in which the water is stored). The water is then passed through a large filtering screen that removes the remaining waste and bacteria from the water. This method does not treat water as thoroughly as wastewater treatment plants, but it treats it enough for it to be reused for certain water intensive practices (e.g. irrigation, washing machines, showering).

What to take away

Water scarcity has become the most immediate threat the world is facing, with the UN declaring the year 2013 “International Year of Water cooperation”. Water scarcity is further intensified in the MENA region because it only holds 1% of the usable water resources in the world, while having 5% of the world’s population. With the population set to increase even further, water scarcity is likely to increase, with predictions indicating that the MENA region is to run out of water by the year 2050. Although harvesting the water provided by storm Alexa does not provide a long-term solution to water scarcity in the region, it offers a short-term respite from its effects. This gives countries more time to plan ahead and to develop further in their quest to mitigate water scarcity. And with scientists indicating that such storms are to become even more rare due to the effects of climate change, these events must be taken full advantages of.

By Amir Dakkak

Waking up one morning, Jamila (not her real name) was planning to do both her laundry and take a shower before embarking on her daily routines. Once the laundry was done, Jamila came to realize that there was no more water left for her to shower. This is the reality of life for many Jordanians where water is in limited supply and not a basic right, as many perceive it to be. With decisions like this plaguing Jordanian lives, one fears what the future holds for water in the country. 

Jordan is one of the most arid countries in the Middle East and is facing severe water shortages. Current per capita supply is 200 cubic meters per person, less than a third of the global average, which stands at 617 cubic meters per person. To make matters worse, it is projected that its population (currently at 6 million) will reach 9 million by 2025 causing a decline in the aforementioned per capita water supply to only 91 cubic meters per person (less than a sixth of the recommended average!). The government has been trying to reduce the rising demand for water through publicity and awareness campaigns. Although working on decreasing the previously mentioned demand for water and promoting efficient water use is an important way of reducing water scarcity, it is still not enough.

Groundwater resources account for 54% of Jordan’s total water supply, and are being threatened by pollution due to over-pumping of aquifers, seepage from landfill sites, and improper disposal of dangerous chemicals. Due to the large amount of fresh water used from aquifers, governments must try to manage the water supply by proper and efficient distribution, and protecting these water sources from pollution. Therefore, managing the supply end of water resources as well as the demand end is of great importance.

The government must start its water supply management by enforcing regulation on water extraction from groundwater aquifers. The lack of such strict enforcement allows for illegal private sector well drilling, and instigates unsustainable extraction of water from the aquifers, which are currently being used at twice the recharge rate. This in turn prevents the aquifer from naturally replenishing, causing it to diminish over time and eventually run dry.

The government must also take initiative in renovating old and rusted water pipes that supply many homes with the water they need. For example, in the United States alone, water leaks waste 1 trillion gallons of water every year, which is equivalent to the annual water usage of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined. The previous example illustrates the severity of the damage that can be caused by leaks if they are not fixed. Furthermore, rusted pipes can cause a change in the color and taste of the water, triggering additional water loss through the disposal of dirty water. Therefore, renovating old pipes, and replacing them is very important.

A key component of water supply management is utilizing alternative sources of water such as wastewater treatment plants, which allow the re-use of waste and brackish water. This not only creates an additional water supply source, but also reduces the reliance on the natural water supplies, such as ground water, giving aquifers more time to replenish and recharge. Importantly, wastewater treatment is a potential source of energy, through harnessing the methane produced by the sewage water. Furthermore, water treatment plants reduce environmental pollution by extracting wastewater that is usually disposed off into rivers and aquifers in the form of runoffs. The government has been planning to build wastewater treatment plants throughout Jordan, such as the Amman-Zarqa wastewater treatment plant. However, these plants have yet to be built, and Jordan has yet to use wastewater treatment to its full potential.

The time to act is now. Soon water scarcity will be too severe to tackle and water supplies will run out. Conclusively, according to the above-mentioned facts, governments must find a balance between managing both the demand for water and the water supply if they are  to tackle the water scarcity plaguing the country.

Photo credit: Tareq