8/9/2019 The Use of Harvested Rainwater and Greywater

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The use of harvested rainwater and treated greywater in urban agriculture to improvethe socio-economic conditions of small farmers in Ariana-Soukra (Tunisia)

HOUMAN Boubaker; BOURAOUI Moez; MARZOUKI YassineClub Unesco Alecso pour le Savoir et le Dveloppement Durable (CUASDD)

Water availability in Tunisia stands at a third of the internationallevel according to the theoretical needs per capita (350m 3 / inhabitant/ per year). Since the beginning of the 1970s, the use of treatedwastewater to complement irrigation has helped to sustainagricultural activity.

However, the governments severe restrictions on wastewater usehave significantly constrained agricultural diversification, leadingsmall farmers to abandon what is now a barely profitable sector.

This poster describes an applied research carried out by the ClubUnesco Alecso pour le Savoir et le Dveloppement Durable(CUASDD) in order to improve the socio-economic conditions of small farmers of Ariana-Soukra Tunisia - through the use of

rainwater and treated greywater in urban agriculture. This projectis part of the UPE Focus Cities Research Initiative (FCRI).

To ensure the projects feasibility, a study of social habits of thebeneficiaries was documented and spatial analysis of land occupation

using GIS was realized. At the same time, a pilot project was conductedduring 2007-2008. This pilot project will serve as a practicaldemonstration and reference site for local authorities and small farmersfacilitating the transfer of the model to the community.

Context

Results

- Studies of land occupation in Ariana-Soukra reveal that the agriculturalland covers 56% of total territory; 32% of this land lie fallow and the builtarea continues to increase covering now nearly 44%.- The average monthly household income (with an average of 6 personsper family) amounts to around 300$US confirming a worsening socio-economic conditions of small farmers.

The implementation of the pilot project in the training center of the Tunisian Association for the Support of Deaf people revealedthat:- Treated greywater collected from the system developed byCUASDD with the support of Tunisian water researchlaboratories is suitable for irrigating ornamental plants. Theannual volume collected (55 m 3 /year) cover the need of 250 m 2 of

plants growing under greenhouse. - With respect to rainwater harvest, the estimated annual volumeamounts to 250m 3 allowing the cultivation of 540 m 2 of vegetablesunder greenhouse.

Practice of intensive and diversified agricultureusing local resources water is an alternative forsmall urban farmers to improve their incomeand to preserve their lands and their Know-how.

La Soukra : Focus city

The project specific objectives are:

- Valorization of rainwater collected from roof and treated greywateras additional water resources to address water scarcity

- Increase the income of targeted population, through intensiveUrban Agriculture

- Build a gender disaggregated data base for Ariana-Soukra toimprove natural and human resources management

- Build the support of local and national stakeholders for the conceptof rainwater and greywater harvesting in urban and peri-urbanagriculture as a means to reduce poverty

- Disseminate the model with its different versions at local, nationaland international levels.

Small farmers in La Soukra

Harvesting rainwater basin

Treated greywater system