Thirteen wastewater treatment plants came online in the Persian calendar year that ends on March 20 adding 300 million cubic meters to recycled capacity a year, deputy chief engineer at the National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company (Abfa) said.
“Construction of nine more wastewater treatment plants are underway and they will come on stream by fall,” IRNA quoted Shahin Pakrouh as saying.
A total of 175 wastewater treatment facilities are operational across the country. The role and significance of water reuse as a solution to the worsening water crisis has increased in recent years.
Refined wastewater is being used largely by the industrial and agricultural sectors. In addition, treatment plants also help protect the environment.
One cubic meter of polluted water contaminates 40 cubic meters of clean water, and collecting and reusing wastewater has become a key to protecting the environment.
In view of dwindling rainfall and rising water consumption, authorities and experts have called for greater attention to collecting, treating and recycling wastewater.
Over 7.5 billion cubic meters of usable water is annually produced in the country, of which 4.3 bcm is wasted. However, less than 25% of wastewater is recycled.
Regarding water treatment facilities, Pakrouh said: “Since the beginning of the year (March 2020) 46 plants were launched throughout the country”.
Currently, 175 water treatment plants are operating in different parts of the country and help meet demand largely from the industrial and farm sectors.
