Towards Sustainable Use of Marginal Quality Water in Syria. Some Challenges and Potential Opportunities

This paper examines a study on the use of marginal quality water in the Jabbul area in Syria that aimed at drawing out some of the main challenges in the use of marginal quality water in agriculture and the environment (wetland) and the potential opportunities towards sustainability. This was accomplished through carrying out an assessment of the sources and qualities of the water used for irrigation and investigating the perceptions of the different stakeholders regarding the use of marginal quality water for agriculture and its disposal into a wetland downstream. These insights together with results of water quality sampling led to the identification of the challenges in the use of marginal quality water in the area. This formed the foundation for laying out the suggestions for the potential opportunities in improving the use of marginal quality water use in the area. The total nitrogen levels were high that farmers could potentially benefit from the nutrients in the marginal quality water. Wastewater treatment could lower the nutrient levels in wastewater. There is also a need for a holistic approach in awareness about the quality, use and potential effects of marginal waters involving all the stakeholders and a more robust approach towards the management of the wetland.