View Technical Program - Levant Desalination Association

Dr. Fouad Abousamra
NOSSTIA Deputy Chairperson – UNEP MAP – Greece
Fouad Abousamra has been with UNEP MAP since 1999 as MEDPOL Programme
manager responsible for follow up activities the implementation of legal instruments
related to management of water ,chemicals, urban and industrial management as
well as preparation of policy oriented assessments. Born in Syria, Fouad Abousamra
read for the BSc in Applied Chemistry, at the University of Damascus, a Doctorat in
Applied Organic Chemistry Process as well as a Diploma on water Pollution Issues
in the University of Louis Pasteur, France and Doctorate ès-sciences in Natural
Sciences(water sector) at the University of Paris VI. Before his appointment with UNEP
MAP he worked as an advisor to the Ministry of Environment of Syria and served as
Head of the Environmental Studies Department at the Higher Institute of Applied
Sciences and Technology (HIAST) as well as Head of the Environmental Research
laboratory at the Scientific Studies and Research Center of Damascus, Syria.
MANAGEMENT OF WATER REUSE ISSUES AND LESSONS LEARNED
FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN
Dr. Fouad Abousamra
NOSSTIA Deputy Chairperson – UNEP MAP – Greece
REF# IDA_DM2010-Abousamra
ABSTRACT
Mobilising non-conventional water resources can provide adequate solutions where
projected levels of water savings prove hard to achieve. In many countries, the
reuse of water is already applied. However, an unofficial and uncontrolled use of
insufficiently treated or even totally untreated wastewater is taking place in some
cases, for both irrigation and domestic uses, resulting in unknown risks to users
and the environment. Legal and policy frameworks are often missing to stimulate
projects development and private sector investments to catch up with rapidly
growing demand and emerging needs.
Lessons learned from the Mediterranean region and some global experiences have
effectively contributed to pinpoint the major legal, institutional and technical issues
that might be considered at national level to make water reuse policy a national
success story. In several cases, when they are not properly tackled, the quality of the
services which are expected out of the water reused policy are not met.
Water Reuse and Desalination: Experience and Opportunity
TECHNICAL PROGRAM 19