MENAWARA
Photo © UNDP Lebanon
Non Conventional WAter Re-use in Agriculture in MEditerranean countries

About the project

Water pressure has given rise in recent decades to a growing gap between supply and demand and to a deterioration in the quality of superficial and underground water sources in the Mediterranean region. Mediterranean countries are still torn between old and new water policies, and water shortage is not related only to increasing demand, but also to poor infrastructure and management practices. The joint challenges of MENAWARA project consist in providing additional resources by recycling drainage and wastewater, tapping water losses, rationalizing water use practices and setting operational governance models in line with national and international plans. The project is designed to enhance access to water through the treatment of wastewater to be re-used as complementary irrigation and to strengthen the capacity of governmental institutions, non-state actors operating in the sector, technicians, and farmers. 

Key information

MENAWARA
Non Conventional WAter Re-use in Agriculture in MEditerranean countries
B.4 Environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation
B.4.1 Water efficiency
Italy, Palestine, Jordan, Tunisia, Spain

Financial data

2.9 million
Total budget
2.6 million
EU contribution
%
10%
Project co-financing

Highlights

Project in numbers

6
Partners
5
Countries
12
Technical outputs

Project duration

Start date
End date

Partnership

News

Events

Library

Deliverables

Documents

Videos

What will be improved?

In all intervention areas, the available hectares for agriculture use will increase and groundwater salinity will decrease, as well as the use of fertilizers. The project will reduce the stress on freshwater sources and will improve the quality of treated wastewater in agriculture. New jobs will be created by incrementing the surface of fertile land equipped with innovative water supply solutions. The project will also contribute to increased farmers’ acceptance of the use of treated wastewater, thus saving fertilizers and increasing profit. 

Who will benefit?

  • 45 farmer households using treated wastewater to irrigate olive trees, fodders and ornamental and fruit plants
  • 50 technicians from local institutions working in the fields related to the project activities 
  • 20 local and national authorities
  • 4,200 people living in the target areas with access to enhanced water quality 
     

Expected achievements

  • 6 wastewater treatment plants equipped with new low-cost pre and post-treatment systems to improve the quality of treated wastewater for agricultural purposes (Imhoff tank, permeable reactive barriers, sand filters, UV, chlorination, etc.)
  • 46.5 hectares of land irrigated with treated wastewater through modern, efficient systems (low-cost innovative sprinklers, subsurface drip irrigation)
  • 5 training sessions addressed to managers, technicians of local institutions, researchers and farmers
  • 6 recommendation papers to promote the use of treated wastewater in agriculture
  • 1 interactive web platform facilitating access to information related to best practices and legislation on non-conventional water management
     
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Project news

MENAWARA project is looking for an external evaluator

NRD-UNISS, Desertification Research Centre of Sassari University, lead beneficiary of MENAWARA, has published an expression of interest for selecting qualified experts to conduct the project final evaluation.

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Project news

MENAWARA presents its latest developments during the final MEDWAYCAP conference in Barcelona.

The conference served as a platform for various stakeholders, policy experts, technical specialists, and representatives from the private sector hailing from Spain, Italy, Gre…

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MENAWARA shares achievements at the conference on the valorisation of treated wastewater in agriculture in Tunisia.

MENAWARA contributed to train and promote the use of non-conventional water for irrigation in Italy, Jordan, Spain and Tunisia.

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MENAWARA final event in Sardinia celebrates achievements in sustainable water management

The use of non conventional water has been at the core of the MENAWARA final event organized in Italy by the Desertification Research Center of the University of Sassari on th…

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MENAWARA exchange visit showcases successful reuse projects and wastewater treatment plant in Palestine

As part of the MENAWARA initiative, an exchange visit was organized to provide farmers with first hand exposure to successful case studies a…

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Project news

MENAWARA provides important learning opportunities linked to non conventional water in Tunisia

The Office National de l'Assainissement (ONAS) in Tunisia successfully organized three comprehensive training courses in May 2023. The …

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Project news

Spain: MENAWARA provides education and training on nature-based solutions for wastewater re-use amidst Mediterranean water scarcity crisis.

Mediterranean countries are struggling with water scarcity, and the problem has only worsened due recent …

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Project news

MENAWARA consortium spearheads the safe re-use of treated waste water in Tunisia.

After visiting the sites of Choutrana and Sidi Amor, researchers, engineers and local stakeholders discussed the challenges of working with limited water resources, which is a…

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Project news

Palestinian Farmers Reap Benefits of the MENAWARA Project

Through the establishment of the Water User Association and intensive trainings, farmers have been able to better regulate irrigation and distribution of effluent, ensuring suitable water for their crops.

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Project news

MENAWARA & MEDWAYCAP: a symposium in Jordan to discuss water security challenges.

The symposium outlined best practices of treated water reuse to increase the water use efficiency implemented in the framework of the MENAWARA and MEDWAYCAP projects.

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Project news

MENAWARA and MEDISS celebrate their successful synergy in water management at the closing event of MEDISS in Sardinia

MENAWARA and MEDISS work in synergy to contrast and mitigate the effects of nitrate contamination in the Arborea plain.

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MENAWARA partners highlight the importance of cooperation on promoting the re-use of treated waste water

International partners discuss local challenges and shared strategies for waste water re-use in the Mediterranean region during event in Ram…

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Discover MENAWARA glossary on water re-use

MENAWARA's glossary of terms, tools and technologies on water re-use is online and translated into 6 languages.

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Italy: MENAWARA implements innovate system to mitigate degradation of groundwater quality and quantity

The Forested Infiltration Area system will help reduce groundwater nitrate concentration in the highly polluted area of Arborea, Sardinia.

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MENAWARA contributes to mitigating the effects of drought on irrigated agriculture

After the first irrigation and olive harvesting season, the quality of the reclaimed water has significantly met the requirements of the current Regulation (EU) 2020/741 for w…

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"La Rasgioni: the court of change". MENAWARA and MEDWAYCAP for the settlement of environmental conflicts

The agro-environmental issues of the Arborea area, the Italian case study of the MENAWARA and MEDWAYCAP projects, at the center of the event…

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Project news

MENAWARA project is looking for a mid-term and final evaluator

A comparative evaluation procedure is launched for the award of a professional work assignment for the performance of the Mid-term and Final Evaluation activities of the MENAWARA project.

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Project news

MENAWARA brings new ways to increase the benefits of agroforestry

During the 6th European Agroforestry Conference (EURAF2022 Nuoro, Italy, May 16-20) forty researchers from various European countries visited the Italian site of the MENAWARA …

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Project news

Two tenders launched by the Tunisian partner of MENAWARA project

L'Office National de l'Assainissement Tunisienne launches two tenders: "Decanter in the additional treated wastewater treatment unit of the GDA Sidi Amor-Borj T…

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Project news

MENAWARA, MEDISS and MEDWAYCAP projects celebrate the World Water Day in Sardinia, Italy

The MEDISS, MENAWARA and MEDWAYCAP projects organize an event on 19 March in Santu Lussurgiu (Sardinia, Italy) that will see primary and secondary school pupils as protagonist…

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Project news

MENAWARA: Call for tender for an innovative wastewater treatment unit in Tunisia

L'Office National de l'Assainissement Tunisienne (Tunisian National Sanitation Office) "O.N.A.S" launches tender for a complementary treatment unit in the …

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Farmers from Beit Dajan, Palestine trust that MENAWARA will help to reduce the cost of irrigation

The Water Users Association, set up on the initiative of the MENAWARA project, has a great interest in the reuse of treated wastewater.

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The MENAWARA project meets students from five Jordanian universities.

The National Agricultural Research Center, Jordanian partner of the MENAWARA project, participated in two important activities for disseminating the project results between No…

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MENAWARA alongside West Bank farmers to improve capacity building for the use of treated wastewater

The Beit Dajan (West Bank) Treated Wastewater User Association met on 9 November last in the venue of the village council. Twenty farmers an…

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MENAWARA contributes to the issue of nitrate pollution in Sardinia, Italy

An important meeting allowed the comparison and the acquisition of knowledge on the topic of nitrates in the Arborea plain among all the competent bodies on water governance i…

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MENAWARA at the International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology CEST 2021

Solutions and technological approaches are not enough to increase water efficiency and encourage the use of unconventional water: it is essential to pool knowledge and skills.…

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MENAWARA project will participate in the 5th Arab Water Forum

The Arab Water Council invited MENAWARA project to participate in the 5th Arab Water Forum to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 21 to 23 september.

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Reusing Non-Conventional Water in Agriculture: a workshop in Jordan by MENAWARA project

On 29th July, a stakeholders workshop and field day was held as part of MENAWARA project in Ramtha Research Station, Jordan.

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MENAWARA trains 10 farmers on the maintenance of irrigation network in Beit Dajan, Palestine

Despite the difficult situation in Palestine, WeWorld - GVC, partner of the MENAWARA project, continues the planned activities.

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MENAWARA unveils research on use of treated wastewater for irrigation in Palestine

The research proposes alternative methods to curb soil salinity in irrigation management of treated wastewate.

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MENAWARA: call for tenders in Tunisia

ONAS (Office National de l'Assainissement, Tunisie) launches a call for tenders to select a company in charge of the design to improve the quality of treated wastewater and irrigation systems in some treat…

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Italy: MENAWARA project is hiring

'Desertification Research Centre - University of Sassari' is looking for an expert in the design, installation and maintenance of the Moodle platform of the MENAWARA project.

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Water management: a master thesis in the framework of MENAWARA project

Tunisian student Houssem Hmaidi discussed a master thesis about “Assessment, evaluation and upgrading of major wastewater treatment plants for irrigation reuse in Tunisia”.

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MENAWARA supports the creation of a treated wastewater user association in Palestine

WeWorld-GVC, partner of the MENAWARA project, organized on December 3rd a meeting to support the creation of treated wastewater user association in Beit Dajan, Palestine.

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MENAWARA: meeting among water stakeholders in Palestine

WeWorld GVC, Palestinian partner of the MENAWARA project, held a stakeholder meeting in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture – Nablus branch.

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MENAWARA Italian lead beneficiary is hiring

NRD-University of Sassari (Italy) is looking for two Technologists/Project Managers.

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Italy: MENAWARA is looking for a Project Manager and a Financial Manager

The deadline for sending applicaitons is 20th November 2020.

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[MENAWARA] Ziad Abdul Jalil, Palestinian farmer, needs high quality treated water

Ziad Abdul Jalil is 35 years old farmer, father of six children. “We do lack to drinkable water. We are forced to purchase high priced tankered water for agriculture”.

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Water management: MENAWARA 3rd Steering Committee met online

The members of the partnership discussed the activities carried out from February 2020 to end of August, and those planned in the third semester.

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University of Sassari is looking for an external auditor to support the MENAWARA project

University of Sassari - Desertification Research Centre, Italian lead beneficiary of the MENAWARA project, is looking for an external auditor for Expenditure and revenue Verif…

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[MENAWARA] The EU Regulation on the reuse of water

MENAWARA welcomes the Regulation on the reuse of water approved by European Parliament. The Regulation defines the minimum requirements at European level for the first time for recovery water (i.e. urban waste …

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Project news

15 June 2020
MENAWARA participates in the celebration of the 2020 Desertification and Drought Day

On Wednesday June 17 at 12 P.M., MENARAWA will participate in the webinar: "SDG-30 vs COVID-19: Opportunities from combating desertification".

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Project news

30 April 2020
Water management: MENAWARA Steering Committee met online

MENAWARA Steering Committee met online to summarize past six months activities and to plan the new actions under the COVID-19 constraints.

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Project news

16 March 2020
Against Coronavirus. But don't forget climate crisis

In Italy, the war against Coronavirus is very strong. A movie (free online until March 22) helps us not to forget the war against the climate crisis.

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Project news

02 March 2020
MENAWARA: University of Sassari is looking for a Project Manager

The deadline for sending applications is 16th March 2020.

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Project news

10 February 2020
[MENAWARA] Improving the use of water in agriculture: lots of ways, not just one

In Seville, researchers and technicians from Tunisia, Palestine, Jordan, Spain and Italy exchanged experiences and best practices to reduce water insecurity.

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Project news

09 December 2019
New connection: MENAWARA + MAYA

MENAWARA builds synergies with MAYA, an inter-university postgraduate Master on integrated water and agriculture management funded under the Erasmus+ Programme.

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Project news

18 November 2019
1st MENAWARA press meeting in Italy

Press meeting held at the University of Sassari to announce the official start of the MENAWARA project.

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Project news

15 November 2019
The MENAWARA project is hiring!

The University of Sassari is looking to hire a financial and administrative manager, as well as a communication manager.