Managed aquifer recharge using quaternary-treated wastewater: an economic perspective |
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| Authors: | Slim Zekri Mushtaque Ahmed Randa Chaieb Noreddine Ghaffour |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Natural Resource Economics, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman;2. Department of Soil, Water and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman;3. Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia |
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| Abstract: | An excess of 31 million m3/y of tertiary-treated wastewater is expected in Muscat, Oman, by 2015. This paper addresses the technical and cost estimation of managed aquifer recharge after reverse-osmosis treatment. The results indicate that the project is appealing from an economic perspective. The total cost varies between USD 0.353 and USD 0.550 per cubic metre, depending on the cost of electricity, the interest rate and the life span of the project. The project may face rejection from domestic users, who may be unwilling to accept mixing treated wastewater with the current water supply due to health risks. An alternative to indirect potable reuse is the installation of a separate network to service industrial users. |
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| Keywords: | managed aquifer recharge treated wastewater capital cost operating and maintenance cost reverse osmosis Oman |
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