Wastewater treatment facilities in northern Gilan Province is lagging behind due to poor and underdeveloped infrastructure, especially in the rural areas.
An estimated 90 million cubic meters of wastewater is produced by households in the northern tourist region, a big part of which (70 mcm) is not recycled and flows into the Caspian Sea or is lost to seepage, ILNA reported.
Collecting wastewater is key to protecting the environment because if not channeled into the network it contaminates clean underground water.
Annual water consumption in the household sector in the major northern tourist hub is 150 mcm producing close to 90 mcm of effluent. Not reclaiming the massive volume is a big economic and environmental loss with adverse effects for the water tables, Ali Dafsari, a lawmaker from the region said.
“Close to 90% of water demand in the region is met from underground resources and failing to efficiently treat wastewater will contaminate underground water and endanger the health of 2.5 million people.”
Sewage collection network in the province extends over 1,000 kilometers but many households, chiefly in rural areas, are yet to be linked to it, Dafsari said.
The semi-official ILNA news agency said lack of efficient rainwater management in Gilan is the main culprit causing floods, mainly in the suburban areas.
Annual rainfall the green and picturesque region is about 1,100 millimeters (the highest in Iran). Nevertheless, due to the absence of wastewater and surface water collection networks, high levels of precipitation has always spelled trouble for the residents who bear the consequences of floods.
Water Treatment Plant
In related news, IRNA quoted Deputy Energy Minister Qasem Taqizadeh Khamesi as saying that the second phase of a water treatment plant became operational in the northern region to curb land subsidence.
“Completed in six years, the facility will treat 500,000 cubic meters of water a day and improve water quality supplied to an estimated two million residents in small towns namely Khomam, Sangar, Kiashahr, Siakal, Roudboneh and Shalman plus 200 rural areas on the outskirts of the tourist province”.
He said 6,000 kilometers of high-pressure water pipelines have been laid, 45 deep wells are dug and 60,000 water storage tanks have been built in Shaft, Amlash, Fouman, Lahijan, Masal, Astara and Langeroud counties.
Due to moderate climate, Gilan is rich in agriculture and animal husbandry. Over half of its farmlands are under rice cultivation and the region is a major rice producer and exporter.
Other well-known Gilan products include tea, citrus fruits, hazelnut, peanut, potatoes, pumpkins, olives, silk cocoon and caviar. It annually produces 2.5 million tons of farm products.
According to Shahin Pakrouh, deputy chief engineer at the National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company (Abfa), 13 wastewater treatment plants came online in the last Persian calendar year that ended on March 20 adding 300 million cubic meters to recycled capacity a year.
“Construction of nine more wastewater treatment plants are underway and they will come on stream by fall.” 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.
