A compendium

of standards for

wastewater
reuse in the
Eastern
Mediterranean
Region

World Health Organization

Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities
CEHA

WHO-EM/CEH/142/E

A compendium of standards for

wastewater reuse in the Eastern
Mediterranean Region

World Health Organization

Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities
CEHA
2006

 World Health Organization 2006

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Document WHO-EM/CEH/142/E

Contents
Introduction

AvailablestandardsforwaterreuseintheRegion

WastewaterreusestandardsinsomecountriesoftheRegion

11

Listoftables
AsummaryofavailablestandardsforwaterreuseintheRegion

WHOmicrobiologicalqualityguidelinesforwastewaterusein
agriculture

FAOguidelinesfortracemetalsinirrigationwater

FAOguidelinesforinterpretationofwaterqualityforirrigation

Recommendedguidelinesfortreatedwastewaterinagriculture

Thepermittedlimitforgreywaterreuseaccordingtotheusetype

10

Riskanalysisofreuse

10

JordanianStandard(JS:893/2002)fordischargetostreams,storageand
groundwaterrecharge
JordanianStandard(JS:893/2002)foreffluentreuseforagricultural
irrigation,1
JordanianStandard(JS:893/2002)foreffluentreuseforagricultural
irrigation,2

13

TreatedwastewatercriteriaforreuseinKuwait

15

Regulationsforwastewaterreuseanddischarge(145/193,1993),Oman

16

Sludgestandardsforlandapplication(145/193,1993),Oman

17

ReusegroupsspecifiedforTable12

17

ReclaimedwaterstandardsforunrestrictedirrigationinSaudiArabia

18

ReclaimedwaterstandardsforrestrictedirrigationinSaudiArabia

19

TunisianStandards,NT10603(1989)

19

12

14

Acronyms and abbreviations

AFESD

ArabFundforEconomicandSocialDevelopment

BOD5

Biochemicaloxygendemand

CEHA

CentreforEnvironmentalHealthActivities

COD

Chemicaloxygendemand

DO

Dissolvedoxygen

ECw

Electricalconductivity(ofwater)

FAO

FoodandAgricultureOrganization

FOG

Fat,oilandgrease

JS

JordanianStandard

MBAS

Methyleneblueactivesubstances

mg/L

Milligramperlitre

MPN

Mostprobablenumber

SAR

Sodiumadsorptionratio

TDS

Totaldissolvedsolids

TSS

Totalsuspendedsolids

T-N

Total nitrogen

TC

Thermotolerantcoliforms

TTCC

Totalthermotolerantcoliformcount

Namesandsymbolsforchemicalcompoundsandelements
Al

Aluminium

Mg

Magnesium

NH4

Ammonium

Mn

Manganese

NH3-N

Ammonia Nitrogen

Hg

Mercury

Sb

Antimony

Mo

Molybdenum

As

Arsenic

Ni

Nickel

Ba

Barium

NO3

Nitrate

Be

Beryllium

HCO3

Bicarbonate

PO4

Nitrogen
Phosphate

Boron

Phosphoros

Cd

Cadmium

Se

Selenium

Cl

Chlorine

Ag

Silver

Cr

Chromium

Na

Sodium

Co

Cobalt

SO4

Sulfate

Cu

Copper

Sulfur

CN

Cyanide

Sn

Tin

Flouride

Ti

Titanium

Fe

Iron

Tungsten

Pb

Lead

Vanadium

Li

Lithium

Zn

Zinc

Introduction

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Thiscompendiumprovidesanoverviewofthequalitystandardsforthereuse
of treated wastewater in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Information was collected through surveys and from the Centre for
EnvironmentalHealthActivities(CEHA),whocontactedcountriesrequesting
that ministries of health provide pertinent standards and regulations for
wastewaterreusequalitystandardsintheircountries.Availablestandardsare
summarized for Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman,
Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Yemen. A summary of this
information is shown in Table 1. Available wastewater reuse standards are
listed in Tables 817 for Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. No
specific standards are promulgated for wastewater reuse in Egypt, Iraq,
Lebanon,PakistanorPalestine.

Tables 24 show the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO) reuse guidelines. Tables 57 show the
recommendedguidelinesforwaterandgreywaterreuseassetbytheregional
consultation in Amman, Jordan in October 2003 which was held to review
national priorities and action plans for wastewater reuse and management,
organizedbyWHOandtheArabFundforEconomicandSocialDevelopment
(AFESD).

Generally, wastewater reuse standards in countries of the Region are either

adopted from WHO standards or other international standards without
adaptingthemtosuitlocalconditions.Itisvitallyessentialthatsuchadopted
guidelines be adapted to prevailing epidemiological, sociocultural and
environmentallocalconditions.Localstudiesareessentialastheymayresult
inarelaxationoftheguidelinesandthusaugmentthequantitiesofreclaimed
water without compromising public health, or may result in the need for
morestringentstandardstoprotectpublichealth.Ineithercase,suchstudies
are deemed necessary to ensure effective and safe implementation of
wastewater reuse guidelines, as this will increase confidence in reclaimed
waterasavaluableresource.

Availablestandardsforwastewater
reuseintheRegion

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table1.AsummaryofavailablestandardsforwaterreuseintheRegion
No Country

Nameofnationalregulation

Issuingagency

Yearof
issuance

Qualitystandardsfor

Remarks

Bahrain

WHOandFAOadopted
guidelines
(SeeTables2,3and4).

Egypt

DecreeNo.(44)/2000Amendment
toExecutiveBulletinofLawNo.
93/1962concerningdischargeof
liquidwastes.

MinistryofHousing,
UtilitiesandBuilding
Societies

2000

Liquidwastes

Nospecificstandards
existforwastewater
reuse.

Iraq

Environmentallegislation.

MinistryofHealth

1998

Environment

Nospecificstandards
existforwastewater
reuse.

Jordan

Treateddomesticwastewater;
JS893:1995.

Standardsand
MeteorologyCorporation

2002

Treateddomestic
wastewater

SeeTables8,9and
10.

Kuwait

AnnexNo.(15),DecreeNo.(210),
2001.

EnvironmentPublic
Authority

2001

Treatedwastewaterreuse
forirrigation

SeeTable11.

Lebanon

MinistryofEnvironmentDecreeNo.
52/1Standardsfortheminimization
ofpollutiontoair,waterandsoil.

MinistryofEnvironment

1996

Standardsforurban
wastewaterminimumlevels
fortreateddomestic
wastewater

Nospecificstandards
existforwastewater
reuse.

Oman

MinisterialDecision145/93,dated13
June1993.Regulationforwastewater
reuseanddischarge.

MinistryofRegional
Municipalitiesand
Environment

1993

Wastewaterreuseand
discharge

SeeTables12,13and14
(Unofficialtranslation).

Pakistan

Nospecificstandards
existforwastewater
reuse.

Table1(cont.)AsummaryofavailablestandardsforwaterreuseintheRegion
Nameofnationalregulation

Issuingagency

Yearof
issuance

Qualitystandardsfor

Remarks

Palestine

Nospecificstandards
existforwastewater
reuse.

10

Saudi
Arabia

TreatedWastewaterandReuse
BylawNo.42,2000.

CouncilofMinisters

2000

Treatedwastewaterand
reuse

SeeTables15and16.

11

Tunisia

Treatedwastewaterusefor
agriculturalpurposes.

MinistryofAgriculture

1997

Treatedwastewater

SeeTable17.

12

Yemen

Proposedstandardsfortreated
wastewaterinYemen.

YemeniAssociationfor
StandardsMeteorology
andQualityControl

2002

Treatedwastewater

Theproposedstandards
areanadoptionof
JordanianStandards
JS:893/1995.

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

No Country

5
5

Category

Exposedgroup

Intestinalnematodesb(arithmetic
meannoofeggsperlitrec)

Faecalcoliforms(geometric
meannoper100mLc)

Irrigation of crops likely to be eaten uncooked,

sportsfields,publicparksd

Workers,
consumers,public

1000d

Irrigationofcerealcrops,industrialcrops,fodder
crops,pastureandtreese

Workers

Nostandardrecommended

Localized irrigation of crops in category B if

exposure of workers and the public does not
occur

None

Notapplicable

Notapplicable

Reuseconditions

Inspecificcases,localepidemiological,socioculturalandenvironmentalfactorsshouldbetakenintoaccount,andtheguidelinesmodifiedaccordingly.
AscarisandTrichurisspeciesandhookworms.
cDuringtheirrigationperiod.
dAmorestringentguideline(200faecalcoliformsper100mL)isappropriateforpubliclawns,suchashotellawns,withwhichthepublicmaycomeintodirectcontact.
eInthecaseoffruittrees,irrigationshouldceasetwoweeksbeforefruitispicked,andnofruitshouldbepickedofftheground.Sprinklerirrigationshouldnotbeused.
a

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table2.WHOmicrobiologicalqualityguidelinesforwastewateruseinagriculturea

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table3.FAOguidelinesfortracemetalsinirrigationwatera
Element Recommended
Remarks
maximum
concentrationb
(mg/L)
Al
5.0
Cancausenonproductivityinacidsoils(pH<5.5),butmore
alkalinesoilsatpH>7.0willprecipitatetheionandeliminate
anytoxicity.
As
0.10
Toxicitytoplantsvarieswidely,rangingfrom12mg/Lfor
Sudangrassto>0.05mg/Lforrice.
Be
0.10
Toxicitytoplantsvarieswidely,rangingfrom5mg/Lforkaleto
0.5mg/Lforbushbeans.
Cd
0.10
Toxictobeans,beetsandturnipsatconcentrationsaslowas0.1
mg/Linnutrientsolutions.Conservativelimitsrecommended
duetoitspotentialforaccumulationinplantsandsoilsto
concentrationsthatmaybeharmfultohumans.
Co
0.05
Toxictotomatoplantsat0.1mg/Linnutrientsolution.Tendsto
beinactivatedbyneutralandalkalinesoils.
Cr
0.10
Notgenerallyrecognizedasanessentialgrowthelement.
Conservativelimitsrecommendedduetolackofknowledgeon
itstoxicitytoplants.
Cu
0.20
Toxictoanumberofplantsat0.1to1.0mg/Linnutrient
solutions.
F
1.0
Inactivatedbyneutralandalkalinesoils.
Fe
5.0
Nottoxictoplantsinaeratedsoils,butcancontributetosoil
acidificationandlossofavailabilityofessentialphosphorusand
molybdenum.Overheadsprinklingmayresultinunsightly
depositsonplants,equipmentandbuildings.
Li
2.5
Toleratedbymostcropsupto5mg/L;mobileinsoil.Toxicto
citrusatlowconcentrations(<0.075mg/L).Actssimilarlyto
boron.
Mn
0.20
Toxictoanumberofcropsatafewtenthstoafewmg/L,but
usuallyonlyinacidsoils.
Mo
0.01
Nottoxictoplantsatnormalconcentrationsinsoilandwater.
Canbetoxictolivestockifforageisgrowninsoilswithhigh
concentrationsofavailablemolybdenum.
Ni
0.20
Toxictoanumberofplantsat0.5mg/Lto1.0mg/L;reduced
toxicityatneutraloralkalinepH.
Pb
5.0
Caninhibitplantcellgrowthatveryhighconcentrations.
Se
0.02
Toxictoplantsatconcentrationsaslowas0.025mg/Landtoxic
tolivestockifforageisgrowninsoilswithrelativelyhighlevels
ofaddedselenium.Anessentialelementtoanimalsbutinvery
lowconcentrations.
Sn

Effectivelyexcludedbyplants;specifictoleranceunknown.
Ti

Effectivelyexcludedbyplants;specifictoleranceunknown.
W

Effectivelyexcludedbyplants;specifictoleranceunknown.
V
0.10
Toxictomanyplantsatrelativelylowconcentrations.
Zn
2.0
Toxictomanyplantsatwidelyvaryingconcentrations;reduced
toxicityatpH>6.0andinfinetexturedororganicsoils.
Sources:FoodandAgricultureOrganization.Waterqualityforagriculture.IrrigationandDrainagePaper29Rev.1,1985.
aAdaptedfromNationalAcademyofSciences(1972)andPratt(1972).
bThemaximumconcentrationisbasedonawaterapplicationratewhichisconsistentwithgoodirrigationpractices
(10000m3perhectareperyear).Ifthewaterapplicationrategreatlyexceedsthis,themaximumconcentrations
shouldbeadjusteddownwardaccordingly.Noadjustmentshouldbemadeforapplicationrateslessthan10000m3
perhectareperyear.Thevaluesgivenareforwaterusedonacontinuousbasisatonesite.

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table4.FAOguidelinesforinterpretationofwaterqualityforirrigationa
Potentialirrigationproblem

Units

Salinity(affectscropwateravailability)b
ECw
(or)
TDS

dS/m

Degreeofrestrictiononuse
None
Slightto
Severe
moderate

<0.7

mg/L <450

0.73.0

>3.0

4502000

>2000

Infiltration(affectsinfiltrationrateofwater
intothesoil.EvaluateusingECwandSAR
together)c

SAR=03andECw=

>0.7

0.70.2

<0.2

=36=

>1.2

1.20.3

<0.3

=612=

>1.9

1.90.5

<0.5

=1220=

>2.9

2.91.3

<1.3

=2040=

>5.0

5.02.9

<2.9

Specificiontoxicity(affectssensitivecrops)

Nad

SAR

Surfaceirrigation

mg/L <69.0

Sprinklerirrigation

Cld

mg/L <142.0

Surfaceirrigation

mg/L <106.5

Sprinklerirrigation

mg/L

Be

Traceelement(SeeTable)

Miscellaneouseffects(affectssusceptible
crops)

mg/L

<5.0

5.030.0

>30.0

NO3Nf

mg/L

<9.5

91.5518.5

>518.5

HCO3(overheadsprinklingonly)

pH

<3.0

<0.7

3.09.0
>69.0

>9.0

142.0355.0
>106.5
0.73.0

Normalrange6.58.4

>355.0

>3.0

Sources:FoodandAgricultureOrganization.Waterqualityforagriculture.IrrigationandDrainagePaper29Rev.1,1985.
aAdaptedfromUniversityofCaliforniaCommitteeofConsultants1974.
bECwmeanselectricalconductivity,ameasureofthewatersalinity,reportedindeciSiemenspermetreat25C(dS/m)
orinunitsmillimohspercentimetre(mmho/cm).Bothareequivalent.TDSmeanstotaldissolvedsolids,reportedin
milligramsperlitre(mg/L).
cSARmeanssodiumadsorptionratio.SARissometimesreportedbythesymbolRNa.SeeFigure1fortheSAR
calculationprocedure.AtagivenSAR,infiltrationrateincreasesaswatersalinityincreases.Evaluatethepotential
infiltrationproblembySARasmodifiedbyECw.AdaptedfromRhoades1977,andOsterandSchroer1979.
dForsurfaceirrigation,mosttreecropsandwoodyplantsaresensitivetosodiumandchloride;usethevaluesshown.
Mostannualcropsarenotsensitive;usethesalinitytolerancetables(Tables4and5).Forchloridetoleranceofselected
fruitcrops,seeTable14in(http://www.fao.org/ag).Withoverheadsprinklerirrigationandlowhumidity(<30%),
sodiumandchloridemaybeabsorbedthroughtheleavesofsensitivecrops.Forcropsensitivitytoabsorption,see
Tables18,19and20in(http://www.fao.org/ag).
eForborontolerances,seeTables16and17in(http://www.fao.org/ag).
fNO3Nmeansnitratenitrogenreportedintermsofelementalnitrogen(NH4NandOrganicNshouldbeincluded
whenwastewaterisbeingtested).

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table5.Recommendedguidelinesfortreatedwastewaterinagriculturea
Category

Reuse
conditions

Exposed
group

Irrigation
technique

Unrestrictedirrigation
For
Workers,
vegetable
consumers,
public
andsalad
cropseaten
uncooked,
sportsfields,
public
parkse

Any

Restrictedirrigation
Cerealcrops, Workers,
industrial
nearby
communities
crops,
fodder
crops,
pastureand
treesf

Workers,
nearby
communities
Localized
None
irrigationof
cropsin
categoryBif
exposureof
workersand
thepublic
doesnot
occur

Sprayor
sprinkler

Intestinal
Thermotolerant
Wastewater
nematodesb
coliformsd
treatment
andlarvaeof
(geometric
expectedto
Strongyloides
meannoper
achieve
stercoralis
100mLc)
required
(larvae/eggs
microbiological
perlitrec)
quality

<detection
103
Waste
stabilization
pondswitha
retentiontime
of21daysor
secondary
treatment
followedby
equivalent
storageorslow
sandfiltration
orequivalent

Asforcategory
<detection
105
A

Flood/furrow <detection

103g

Asforcategory
A

Trickle,drip
orbubbler

Notapplicable

Pretreatmentas
requiredbythe
irrigation
technology,but
notlessthan
primary
sedimentation

Not
applicable

Source:ReportoftheWHO/AFESDRegionalconsultationtoreviewnationalprioritiesandactionplansforwastewaterreuseand
management(WHOEM/CEH/106/E).
aInspecificcases,localepidemiological,socioculturalandenvironmentalfactorsshouldbetakenintoaccountandtheguidelines
modifiedaccordingly.
bAscarisandTrichurisspeciesandhookworms;theguidelinelimitisalsointendedtoprotectagainstrisksfromparasiticprotozoa.
cGuidelinevaluesaregivenfordesignpurposes.Theyshouldbeachievedduringtheplanninganddesignstagesforeffluent
reuseprojects,andnotusedasastandardspecificationformonitoringeffluentqualityandsamplescollection.
dScientificstudiessuggestedthatEscherichiacoli(E.coli)isthepreferredindicatoroffaecalcontamination.E.coliisapproximately
equivalentto90%ofthefaecalcoliforms.(TTA/CEHA).
eAmorestringentguidelinelimit(<200thermotolerantcoliforms/100mL)isappropriateforpubliclawns,suchashotellawns,
withwhichthepublicmaycomeintodirectcontact.
fInthecaseoffruittrees,irrigationshouldstoptwoweeksbeforefruitispicked,andnofruitshouldbepickedofftheground.
Spray/sprinklerirrigationshouldnotbeused.
gIncaseswherethetreatmentmethodfailstoachievetheguidelinelimit,usethermotolerantcoliforms<105,providedthatprecautions
aretakensuchasprotectiveclothes,croprestrictionandprovidingabufferzonebetweentheirrigatedareaandnearbycommunities.

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table6.Thepermittedlimitforgreywaterreuseaccordingtotheusetype
Test

Permittedlimit

BOD5(mg/L)
Samplenumber
TSS(mg/L)
Samplenumber
Thermotolerant
coliforms(cfu/100mL)
Samplenumber

(A)Irrigationof
ornamentalfruittrees
andfoddercrops

(B)Irrigationof
vegetableslikelytobe
eatenuncooked

(C)Toilet
flushing

240

20

10

Sample/month

Twosamples/month

Sample/week

140

20

10

Sample/month

Twosamples/month

Sample/week

1000

200

10

Twosamples/month

Sample/twoweeks

Sample/week

Source:ReportontheWHO/AFESDregionalconsultationtoreviewnationalprioritiesandactionplansfor
wastewaterreuseandmanagement(WHOEM/CEH/106/E).

Table7.Riskanalysisofreuse
Variable

Risk
Intermediate

Low

High

Population

Small population (single

family)

Large
population
(multiple
occupancy)

Exposure

Nobodycontact
(subsurfaceirrigation)

Somecontact(toilet
flushing,bathing

Ingestion
(drinking)

Doseresponse

<1viruspersample
<1viruspersample

> 1 virus per

sample
> 106 bacteria
persample

Delaybeforereuse

Immediatereuse

Reusewithin48hours

Reuse after 2
days

Source:ReportoftheWHO/AFESDRegionalconsultationtoreviewnationalprioritiesandactionplansforwastewaterreuse
andmanagement(WHOEM/CEH/106/E).

10

Wastewaterreusestandardsinsome
countriesoftheRegion

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Jordan
Table8.JordanianStandard(JS:893/2002)fordischargetostreams,storage
Parameter
GroupA
BOD5
COD
DO
TSS
pH
Turbidity
NO3

Unit

mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
unit
NTU
mg/L

Dischargetostreams,wadisand Groundwater
waterstorageareas
recharge

60.0a
15.0
150.0b
50.0
>1.0
>2.0
50.0
60.0b
6.09.0
6.09.0

2.0
45.0
30.0

NH4
mg/L

TN
mg/L
E.coli
MPN/100mL
Intestinalhelmintheggs
egg/L
FOG
mg/L
GroupB

Phenol
mg/L
MBAS
mg/L
TDS
mg/L
TotalPO4
mg/L

70.0
1000.0
1.0
8.0

<0.002
25.0
1500.0
15.0

5.0
45.0
<2.2
1.0

<0.002
25.0
1500.0
15.0

Cl
SO4

mg/L
mg/L

350.0
300.0

350.0
300.0

HCO3
Na
Mg
Ca
SAR
Al
As
Be
Cu
F
Fe
Li
Mn
Mo
Ni
Pb
Se
Cd
Zn
Cr
Hg
V
Co
B

mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L
mg/L

400.0
200.0
60.0
200.0
6.0
2.0
0.05
0.1
0.2
1.5
5.0
2.5
0.2
0.01
0.2
0.2
0.05
0.01
5.0
0.02
0.002
0.1
0.05
1.0

400.0
200.0
60.0
200.0
6.0
2.0
0.05
0.1
0.2
1.5
5.0
2.5
0.2
0.01
0.2
0.2
0.05
0.01
5.0
0.02
0.002
0.1
0.05
1.0

a:BOD5measuredassolubleforwastestabilizationpondseffluentsandthosewithpolishingpondsandastotalfor
allothers.
b:Twicethisvaluemaybeallowedforeffluentsofwastestabilizationpondsandthosewithpolishingponds.

12

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table9.JordanianStandard(JS:893/2002)foreffluentreuse
foragriculturalirrigation,1
Parameter

Unit

Cookedvegetables, Plenteoustrees Fieldcrops,

parkingareas,
andgreenareas, industrial
playgroundsandside sideofroads
cropsand
ofroadsinsidecities outsidecities
forestry
A
B
C

Group

BOD5

mg/L

30.0

200

300

COD

mg/L

100

500

500

DO

mg/L

>2.0

TSS

mg/L

50.0

150

150

pH

unit

6.09.0

6.09.0

6.09.0

Turbidity

NTU

10.0

NO3

mg/L

30.0

45.0

45.0

TN

mg/L

45.0

70.0

70.0

MPN/100mL

100

1000

1.0

1.0

1.0

E.coli

Intestinalhelmintheggs

egg/L

13

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table10.JordanianStandard(JS:893/2002)foreffluent
reuseforagriculturalirrigation,2
Parameter(mg/L)

Guidelinevalues
(maximumpermissible)

FOG
Phenol
MBAS
TDS
TotalPO4
Cl
SO4
HCO3
Na
Mg
Ca
SAR
Al
As
Be
Cu
F
Fe
Li
Mn
Mo
Ni
Pb
Se
Cd
Zn
Cr
Hg
V
Co
B

14

8.0
<0.002
100.0
1500.0
30.0
400.0
500.0
400.0
230.0
100.0
230.0
9.0
5.0
0.1
0.1
0.2
1.5
5.0
2.5(0.075forcitruscrop)
0.2
0.01
0.2
5.0
0.05
0.01
5.0
0.1
0.002
0.1
0.05
1.0

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Kuwait

Table11.TreatedwastewatercriteriaforreuseinKuwait
Parameter
pH
BOD5(5days,20C)
COD(dichromate)
FOG

Maximumallowable
6.58.5
20.0
100.0
5.0

TSS

15.0

TDS

1500.0

PO4

30.0

NH3N

15.0

TotalKjeldahlnitrogen

35.0

Totalrecoverablephenol

1.0

25.0

0.1

Cl2
DO
Hydrocarbons
Floatables

0.51.0
>2.0
5.0
Nil

Al

5.0

As

0.1

Ba

2.0

2.0

Cd

0.01

Cr

0.15

Ni

0.2

Hg

0.002

Co

0.2

Fe

5.0

Sb

Cu

0.2

Mn

0.2

Zn

2.0

Pb

0.5

Mostprobablenumberoftotalcoliforms

400.0

Mostprobablenumberoffaecalcoliforms(MPN/100mL)

20.0

Eggparasites(no/litre)

<1.0

Wormparasites

Absent

Source:AnnexNo.(15),DecreeNo.(210),2001.
Allunitsareinmg/Lexceptwherenotedotherwise.

15

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Oman
Table12.Regulationsforwastewaterreuseanddischarge(145/193,1993),
Oman
Parameter
BOD(5daysat20C)
COD
TSS
TDS
EC(microS/cm)
SARa
pH(withinrange)
Al
As
Ba
Be
B
Cd
Cl
Cr
Co
Cu
CN
F
Fe
Pb
Li
Mg
Mn
Hg
Mo
Ni
Ammoniacal(asN)
Nitrate(asNO3)
Organic(Kjeldahl)(asN)
FOG(totalextractable)
Phenols(total)
P
Se
Ag
Na
SO4
S
V
Zn
Faecalcoliformbacteria(per100mL)
Viablenematodeova(perlitre)
a:Theeffectofsodiumassoilabsorption.
Allunitsareinmg/Lexceptedwherenotedotherwise.

16

Standards(seeTable14)
A
15.0
150.0
15.0
1500.0
2000.0
10.0
6.09.0
5.0
0.1
1.0
0.100
0.500
0.010
650.0
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.05
1.0
1.0
0.100
0.070
150.0
0.100
0.001
0.01
0.100
5.0
50.0
5.0
0.500
0.001
30.0
0.02
0.010
200.0
400.0
0.0100
0.100
5.0
200.0
<1.0

B
20.0
200.0
30.0
2000.0
2700.0
10.0
6.09.0
5.0
0.1
2.0
0.300
1.0
0.010
650.0
0.050
0.050
1.0
0.100
2.0
5.0
0.200
0.070
150.0
0.500
0.001
0.05
0.100
10.0
50.0
10.0
0.500
0.002
30.0
0.02
0.010
300.0
400.0
0.010
0.100
5.0
1000.0
<1.0

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table13.Sludgestandardsforlandapplication(145/193,1993),Oman
Metal Maximumconcentration Maximumapplicationrate
(mg/kgofdrysolids)
(kg/haperyear)a

Maximumconcentration
(mg/kgofdrysolids)

Cd

20.0

0.15

3.0

Cr

1000.0

10.0

400.0

Cu

1000.0

10.0

150.0

Pb

1000.0

15.0

30.0

Hg

20.0

0.100

1.0

Mo

20.0

0.100

3.0

Ni

300.0

3.0

75.0

Se

50.0

0.15

5.0

Zn

3000.0

15.0

300.0

Afterthespreadingofsludgetheremustbeaminimumperiodof3weeksbeforegrazingorharvestingofforage
crops.
Sludgeuseisprohibited:
onsoilswhilefruitorvegetablecrops,otherthanfruittrees,aregrowingorbeingharvested.
for6monthsprecedingtheharvestingoffruitorvegetableswhichgrowincontactwiththesoilandwhichare
normallyeatenraw.
onsoilswithapH<7.0.
aBasedona10yearaverageandasoilpH>7.0.

Table14.ReusegroupsspecifiedforTable12
Group

B
(SeeTable12)

Crops

Vegetableslikelytobeeatenraw
Fruitlikelytobeeatenrawandwithin2
weeksofanyirrigation

Vegetablestobecooked
orprocessed
Fruitifnoirrigation
within2weeksof
cropping
Fodder,cerealandseed
crops

Grassand
ornamental
areas

Publicparks,hotellawnsandrecreational
areas
Areaswithpublicaccess
Lakeswithpubliccontact(exceptplaces
whichmaybeusedforprayingandhand
washing)

Pasture
Areaswithnopublic
access

Aquifer
recharge

Allcontrolledaquiferrecharge

Methodof
irrigation

Sprayoranyothermethodofaerialirrigationnotpermittedinareaswith
publicaccessunlesswithtimingcontrol

Anyother
reuse
applications

SubjecttotheapprovaloftheMinistry

17

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

SaudiArabia
Table15.ReclaimedwaterstandardsforunrestrictedirrigationinSaudi
Arabia
Parameter
Physicalcharacteristics

Maximumconcentration

Floatingmaterial
TSS
pH(SU)
Chemicalcharacteristicsorganic
BOD5
Turbidity(NTU)
FOG
Phenol
Chemicalcharacteristics
Al
As
Be
B
Ba
Cd
Cl2
Cr
Co
Cu
CN

Nil
10.0
6.08.5

F
Fe
Pb
Ag
Li
Mn
Hg
Mo
Ni
Se
Va
Zn
NO3
Cl
SO4
NH3
Microbiologicalcharacteristics
TTCC(MPN/100mL)
Livingintestinalnematodes(no/litre)

1.0
2.0
0.1
0.5
0.07
0.2
0.001
0.01
0.2
0.02
0.1
2.0
10.0
100.0
600.0
5.0

Source:TreatedWastewaterandReuseBylawNo.42,2000.
Allunitsareinmg/Lunlessindicatedotherwise.

18

10.0
5.0
Nil
0.002
5.00
0.1
0.1
0.5
1.0
0.01
0.2
0.1
0.05
0.4
0.05

2.2
1.0

A compendium of standards for wastewater reuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Table16:ReclaimedwaterstandardsforrestrictedirrigationinSaudi
Arabia
Parameter

Maximumconcentration

BOD5

40.0

TSS

40.0

TDS

2000

TTCC(MPN/100mL)

1000

Livingintestinalnematodes(no/litre)

1.0

Tunisia
Table17.TunisianStandards,NT10603(1989)
Parameters
PH
Conductivity

Maximumallowable
6.5to8.5
7000(s/cm)

COD

90.0a

BOD5

30.0a

TSS

30.0

Cl

2000

Fluorides
Organicchlorine

3.0
0.001

As

0.1

3.0

Cd

0.01

Co

0.1

Cr

0.1

Cu

0.5

Fe

0.5

Mg

0.5

Hg

0.001

Ni

0.2

Pb

1.0

Se

0.05

Zn

5.0

Arithmeticaverageofintestinalnematodeeggs

<1(per1000mL)

Source:TunisianStandardNT106.03(1989).
a:24hourcompositesample.
Allunitsareinmg/Lunlessindicatedotherwise.

19