Iraqi Marshlands Project

Transcription

1 Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) and Management Practices: Iraqi Marshlands Project Presented at Consultative Meeting on Water and Wastewater Management 1 19 April 2010 Dr. Ali Al-Lami National Coordinator Iraqi Marshlands Project Iraqi Ministry of Environment

2 Background on Iraqi Marshlands Iraqi Marshlands: one of the world s most significant wetland ecosystems, with historical/cultural significance Protection of human health and livelihoods and the preservation of area s ecosystems and biodiversity recognized as national priority since 2004 Problems identified as priorities: Marshland degradation: Reflooded areas have different degrees of ecosystem recovery Contamination with pesticides, salt, untreated industrial and sewage discharge from upstream Lack of drinking water: Identified as number one critical priority by local residents Lack of sanitation: Lack of basic sanitation, outbreaks of water-borne diseases, and return of displaced persons with additional needs for water and sanitation 2

3 Marshlands Project Overview Goal and Objectives: to support sustainable management and restoration of the Iraqi Marshlands, by: Monitoring and assessing current marshland conditions and disseminating information and assessment tools Building capacity for technical and policy management Implementing environmentally sound technology (EST) options on a pilot basis for: drinking water sanitation wetland and water quality management Facilitating policy and strategy formulation and coordination, based on project results and dialogue

4 s Initiatives in Iraqi Marshlands Phase I ( ) Through UNDG Iraq Trust Fund Financed by Govt. of Japan (US $11 million) Phase II-A ( ) Financed by Govt. of Italy (US $947,234) Phase II-B (mid ) Financed by Govt. of Japan (US $1 million) Phase III (mid ) Financed by Govt. of Japan (US $900,000) 4

5 Project Implemented in Partnership DTIE Division of Technology Industry and Economics IETC International Environmental Technology Centre PIU Project Implementation Unit in Iraq AIF Amman Implementation Facility MOE Ministry of Environment MOWR Ministry of Water Resources Consultants, NGOs & Contractors MOMPW Ministry of Municipalities & Public Works Governorates Thi-Qar, Missan and Basrah Communities in Pilot Project Sites

6 What? EST Pilot Implementation 3 types of pilot applications Drinking water provision Wetland and water quality management Sanitation and wastewater treatment provision Where? Targeting smaller communities Larger towns get more services from government and donors How? Engagement of Iraqi partners with international input Candidate sites nominated by MOE, MOWR, MMPW, local communities, and selected based on consensus Sampling, local training & monitoring organized by Iraqi partners Feasibility study & implementation organized with international contractors Monitoring & independent evaluation before official hand-over to Iraqi institutions Preparation Feasibility study Site selection Monitoring Training Community engagement EST Implementation EST installation Operation & Management Continued training Monitoring & Evaluation

7 EST Pilot Project Sites

8 Drinking Water Pilot Project 8 Condition: Brackish source water: 1,000-5,000 mg/l TDS Necessitates desalination to meet Iraqi standards and WHO guidelines Water supply system EST: 1. Water treated using packaged low pressure reverse osmosis 2. Modular system: can add more later and be moved 3. Distributed through common taps Key system characteristics: Pre-packaged, container system for ease of transport & installation Simple operations & maintenance by local workers with training New treatment (reverse osmosis) and supply system for 6 sites, rehabilitated conventional system in 1 site Handed over to MMPW in 2007 Other efforts: Photovoltaic power augmentation in 1 site Solar stills

9 Sanitation Pilot Project Condition: Implemented in Al-Chibayish community, facing potential health hazards from untreated wastewater discharge Sanitation EST: 1. Used constructed wetlands EST 2. Regulated flow of wastewater through gravel beds planted with reeds 3. Removed organic nutrients and pollutants through biochemical processes in the root zone and plant uptake Key system characteristics: Provided sanitation for approximately 170 inhabitants, with surface area of 540 m2 Utilized plants available from nearby marshes Had simple operations and maintenance Handed over to Thi-Qar University System was impacted by drought after hand-over 9

10 Water Quality and Wetland Improvement Pilot Project Condition: Main Drain takes discharge and agricultural run-off from upstream areas to the Gulf Possibility of using the Main Drain water was identified as a potential option for reflooding There was a need to evaluate the suitability of Main Drain water for marshland release and to determine options for water quality/wetland improvement signed implementation agreement with MOE EST: Natural wetland system using phytotechnology Key observations: Water quality improvement is needed before release MD samples did not meet Iraqi standards for wastewater discharge to water course, or standards for raw water sources for drinking The system showed reduction in key pollutants (TSS, nitrates and phosphates), but with inconsistencies Results were affected by drought Longer-term monitoring and availability of water flow are needed in cooperation with MOWR Other efforts: Wetland rehabilitation pilot, with MOWR-CRIM Water quality and biodiversity survey Inlet to Auda Marsh pilot site

11 Results to Date (1) The project was implemented under extremely difficult conditions. But we worked together to have good results. 1. Improved living conditions in local communities 11 Set up and handed over drinking water facilities for up to 25,000 people Demonstration of sanitation and wetland management practices (what works or does not work for Iraqi conditions, to be further promoted by Iraqi institutions) 2. Generated data and information we have better ideas of what is happening in the marshlands Water quality and biodiversity monitoring Marshland water and vegetation recovery data Solid waste and socioeconomic survey 3. Established working cooperation among Iraqi and international institutions Established cooperation at local, governorate, national, and water basin levels Utilized the concept of stakeholder involvement and consensus building

12 Results to Date (2) 1. Contributed to the re-development of local communities, reducing anxiety towards rebuilding life in the marshlands Drinking water people s return increase in cattle, dairy production and supply, reed craft development increase in income and employment opportunity community development (from monitoring report) 2. Built expertise of personnel and utilized them for implementation Over 400 trained outside Iraq, 100 inside Iraq Many trained personnel contribute to project planning & implementation 3. Created employment opportunities Linked training with project implementation activities 4. Identified follow-up initiatives for longer-term development Many ideas discussed and some developed as full proposals World Heritage project started in 2009, with Italian support 12

13 13 Impacts on Iraqi Environmental Management: Drinking Water EST Reverse osmosis (RO) ESTs have been replicated by others, and water quality monitoring results have been used for standard revision 1. After project, additional RO stations have been installed by other donors and organizations 1. Government of Italy: installed 3 stations with identical ESTs 2. Private sector: many stations established, but no reliable statistics on their numbers or water quality monitoring 3. MMPW: uses reverse osmosis, mostly focusing on restoring drinking water services to larger cities and towns 2. MOE is establishing and revising water quality and analysis standards 1. Ministry of Environment Water Department is developing a proposal to establish new drinking water and ambient water quality standards 2. Standard procedure for water quality analysis in Iraq is being prepared, using GEMS Water Standards, with an international NGO participating in project 3. MOE is putting efforts on longer-term follow-up 1. Regular visits to water stations since MMPW hand-over 2. Planning to conduct additional solar stills monitoring this year

14 Impacts on Iraqi Environmental Management: Wetland Management and Water Quality ESTs Main Drain pilot project results are used for national policymaking, and Phytotechnology EST was officially recommended by MOE 1. Severe 2-year drought caused water shortage in the Marshlands, and the release of Main Drain water was requested by local governorates 2. Inter-ministerial consultative meeting was convened in November 2009 to urgently discuss the situation with 2 options: 1. Do nothing (keep the area dry) 2. Release Main Drain water with water quality concerns to the Marshlands 3. MOE submitted the pilot project results to the consultative meeting, and recommended 2 actions if Main Drain water needs to be released: 1. Phytotechnology EST applications 2. Periodic release of freshwater from the Tigris River 4. The national government decided to release Main Drain water, and water release is ongoing in Thi-Qar 1. MOWR-CRIM is responsible for applying Phytotechnology and periodic water release MOE is responsible for water quality monitoring

15 Impacts on Iraqi Environmental Management: Wetland Management and Water Quality ESTs MOWR-CRIM is continuing with wetland management, mainly from hydrological perspective 1. Marshland management included in the National Development Strategy: Revitalizing and developing Iraqi Marshes according to (development) comprehensive programmes within provided water resources 2. Wetland rehabilitation and hydrological work is conducted by MOWR- CRIM in many sites, including construction and management of dykes and channels, and flow regulation 3. Phytotechnology has been applied by CRIM in another site 4. CRIM is assessing impacts of Main Drain water release 5. Wetland phytotechnology was also applied by others, such as Nature Iraq 6. Other donors (Italy, Canada) created scenarios for marshland restoration 15

16 Additional EST Support Needed: Priority 1 ESTs and MEAs Priority for MOE is to clarify how ESTs can be analyzed and implemented within MEA frameworks Iraq recently gained accession to MEAs - CBD and UNFCCC (2009) MEA secretariats are providing support for capacity building, national report preparations However, there are no systematic efforts so far to assess needs and potentials for ESTs in Iraq: There is a need for Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) in Iraq, particularly for climate change and biodiversity There is a need to collect data and tools to help assess Iraqi needs for ESTs There is a need for capacity building to use the tools and to conduct TNAs There is need for a mechanism to share experiences with other countries There is a need to support the implementation of ESTs identified There is a need to review and develop national laws and policies that promote ESTs 16

17 Additional EST Support Needed: Priority 2 Impacts from Drought and Climate Change Iraq needs more support to identify and implement ESTs in the Marshlands and elsewhere, to address impacts climate change, drought, and desertification Climate change and extreme drought over 2 years are causing severe impacts on Iraqi Environment: Water shortage, and decrease in available water resources Water quality has worsened % of restoration of marshlands decreased from ~60% to ~10% Number and impacts of sand storms have increased There are negative impacts on agriculture There are negative impacts on biodiversity There is a need for ecosystem restoration There is a need for ESTs to help Iraq to face these new challenges 17

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26 Main Drain, Different Sectors

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28 Why the MD Flow Rate: 40m³/S TDS: 6000ppm Very close to Hammar Marshlands There is no other alternative in the time being

29 In 19Dec2009 Marshlands Restoration by Main Drain water start

30 After Restoration

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38 Thank You Very Much