Task 1Assessment <strong>of</strong> the existing situation in Morocco and in the EUENGLISH SUMMARYAssessment <strong>of</strong> the existing situation in Morocco with regard to theproduction, treatment disposal and reuse <strong>of</strong> sludge and other BOW.June 2006iv
I – IntroductionThe treatment <strong>of</strong> wastewaters results in the production <strong>of</strong> large quantities <strong>of</strong> sludge. InMorocco, the volume <strong>of</strong> rejected wastewaters were estimated to be 550 Mm 3 /year in 2005 andare expected to reach 900 Mm 3 /year in the year 2020 (Conseil Supérieur de l’Eau et duClimat, 2001).In view <strong>of</strong> the environmental problems and public health, the increase in the demand for waterfor human, industrial and agricultural consumption and in view <strong>of</strong> the repeated drought inMorocco, wastewaters are actually considered as an appreciable water resource. This is whythe governmental authority has started a national sanitation and water purificationprogramme. This programme concerns amongst others, the reinforcement <strong>of</strong> wastewatertreatment infrastructures and its objective is to combat water resources pollution from 60% in2010 (Action Plan 2005-2007, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Land Management, Water and the Environment).The volume <strong>of</strong> the treated wastewater, at the level <strong>of</strong> the 72 treatment plants <strong>of</strong> Morocco, isabout 8% and generates 13,770 tonnes <strong>of</strong> sludge. On the other hand, the actual production <strong>of</strong>sludge from the treatment in the urban zone sanitation networks is estimated approximately to9,900 tonnes. Thus, the potential <strong>of</strong> the sludge produced in Morocco amounted to 23,310tonnes in 2005. Projections for the year 2010 predict a sludge production at the STEP level <strong>of</strong>the order <strong>of</strong> 123,300 tonnes.The most important development domains <strong>of</strong> this sludge are either the energy domain (Biogasproduction as heat and electricity source), or its biological or agricultural use (compostproduction). This last use contributes to a mineral and organic component reintegration to thesoil.After all, the texture, the chemical composition <strong>of</strong> sludge and the eventual use <strong>of</strong> the product,form the compost systems. These make it necessary sometimes to add materials <strong>of</strong> mineralnature (clay allowing the mixing <strong>of</strong> heavy metals) and/or <strong>of</strong> organic nature to adjust the ratioC/N/P or to improve the texture and quality <strong>of</strong> the final compost. Thus, biodegradable organicwaste (BOW) is for current use in the composting systems <strong>of</strong> sludge that originates fromwater treatment plants, allowing the adjustment and improvement <strong>of</strong> the compost from thesludge <strong>of</strong> STEP. Composting, therefore, constitutes a simultaneous use <strong>of</strong> BOW and sludgefrom these treatment plants.Morocco, a country with an economy based, to a large extend, on agriculture, has set severalirrigated perimeters in order to improve the agricultural production and increase the value <strong>of</strong>these zones. However, the intensive exploitation systems <strong>of</strong> the soils at the level <strong>of</strong> theseperimeters cause their deterioration in organic matter in particular, in the Doukkala region.Thus, compost constitutes a local source <strong>of</strong> cheap, stable organic addition. Thus, the
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