Welcome

Zarka Chamber of Industry

Organizational Chart

Laws & Regulations

Main Activities

Services

Members

Board of Directors

Projects

Vacancies

Idea and Concept

The idea and concept for establishing an industrial wastewater treatment plant IWWTP came as a joint initiative by Zarka Chamber of Industry and the Jordanian Ministry of Environment and Water Authority. The aim of the project is to develop an economically and environmentally sound system to handle the industrial wastewater effluents of industrial establishments in the Zarka governorate. An initial study in logistics concluded that a central IWWTP is more economically, technically and environmentally viable than several smaller treatment plants at each factory.
 
Study Objectives

The TOR for a detailed feasibility study were prepared to determine the following:
 

• An assessment of industry interest to use a central IWWTP and their willingness to pay for its services.
   

• Identification of treatment alternatives and site locations.
   

• Feasibility study of the proposed central IWWTP to demonstrate the economic viability of the project, including preliminary design, financial analysis and institutional aspects.
   

• Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the preferred scheme.

Study Stages
 

• A consortium of the German Dorsch Consult and the local EnviroConsult Office were chosen to undertake the study.
   

• A detailed study was concluded to determine the volume and characteristics of industrial wastes generated by industrial establishments.
   

• A conceptual design for the IWWTP was developed to treat 1450 cubic meters per day by four pre-treatment units to extract heavy metals, fats, oil and grease (FOG), weak organics, and Strong organics .
   

• An Aerobic Activated Sludge process was chosen as the Main Treatment Line.
   

• A Sludge thickening and dewatering unit.

Area and Location of IWWTP
 

• Several potential locations for IWWTP were considered. An area south of Zarka Free Zone was finally chosen due to its level contours, accessibility, good gradient for construction and irrigation, isolation (minimal odour control), good ground conditions and minimal environmental adverse effects .
   

• A land area of one million square meters was estimated as required to establish the IWWTP and to be planted with cash Crops (Olives, Timber) irrigated with treated industrial wastewater.

Treatment Units
 

• The daily flow discharge capacity at the plant shall be around 1450 cubic meters per day.
   

• Four pre-treatment units were envisaged to treat the industrial wastewater as follows:

- Heavy metals pre-treatment: 20 m³/d.
- FOG pre-treatment: 600 m³/d.
- Mechanical pre-treatment for organics: 645 m³/d.
- Anaerobic pre-treatment for strong organic:185 m³/d.
- Aerobic Activated Sludge main treatment:1450 m³/d.
 

• The sludge is thickened, dewatered, conditioned and stored.
   

• The process units were designed and arranged in a modular concept so that additional units can be installed at a later date as the demand and loads on IWWTP increase.
   

• Additional options were considered for a future extension including a gas dome,de-sulphurisation and power generation. Effluent sand filtration and disinfection (chlorination, ozone or UV). Odour control. Evaporation ponds for hazardous effluents.

Tariff structure
 

• A tariff structure was proposed on the principle of the “polluter pays”.
   

• Industries will pay according to volume of flow with surcharge tariff on pollutant loads.
   

• Tariff was calculated to achieve cost recovery.
   

• The tariff is sensitive to the final investment costs and sources of funding.
   

• The tariff rates are competitive with the real comparative costs of the industries providing their own individual treatment facilities.

Proposed Tariff Rates
 

• The following tariff rates were proposed:-
  Hydraulic Load JD 0.500/m³ *
  COD Load above 1500 mg/l JD 0.100/kg
  FOG Load above 200 mg/l JD 0.500/m³
  Heavy metals contaminated JD 2.000/m³
  Wastewater
  * Prices were calculated on the following exchange rates (1JD= 1.16 € ; 1€= 1.208 $)
   

• The TDS load was not part of the tariff since no treatment was available. High conductivity wastewater will not be accepted at the plant.Wastewater will be transported from different industries to IWWTP by tankers which will cover distances varying from 3 to 35 km (average 20 km).
   

• Use of public tankers or tankers owned by IWWTP or the industries generating wastewater will be optional (whichever is cheaper).
   

• For cash flow assessment an average transport rate of JD 0.600/m³ was considered.

Environmental Impact of the Project
 

• The project assures protection of the limited water resources and the environment.
   

• Reduce the loads on the existing domestic wastewater treatment facility.
   

• The project provides the opportunity to transfer the treatment burden to a third party, enabling industry to develop.
   

• The project will facilitate the controlled reuse of treated industrial water.
   

• The project will enhance forestation activities in Zarka.

Economic Assessment

The economic assessment confirms that the project in its own rights is marginal as a viable commercial private project. but recognizes its environmental benefits and concludes that the project would be commercially viable with a moderate level of grants and soft loans.

Project Costs

The total cost of the project was estimated to be around five million USD.

Laws and Regulations

A high demand for the services IWWTP will be assured by the government’s willingness to implement strong laws and regulations on the environmental problem of industrial wastewater. If enacted laws and regulations are enforced firmly the proposed project would be in a virtual monopoly position and, therefore, able to maximize returns by fuller utilization.