SDG 6 | CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
[6.3] Water usage and care
[6.3.1] Wastewater Treatment
1. Executive Summary
Wastewater Treatment at PTUK aims to improve sanitation and reduce environmental pollution. It aligns with SDG6 by ensuring treated wastewater meets quality standards and can be safely reused. Activities include research on treatment technologies, pilot-scale treatment systems, and monitoring wastewater quality. Students and faculty participate in designing and operating treatment plants, analyzing chemical and biological parameters, and proposing improvements. Outputs include research publications, demonstration projects, and educational sessions. Additional activities include collaboration with municipal wastewater authorities, student-led treatment optimization projects, and public awareness campaigns on wastewater reuse.
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
2. Wastewater Treatment – Activities
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01. Pilot Wastewater Treatment Plant
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| PTUK took on the task of installing and operating a small-scale treatment facility on campus. This system uses different methods of treatment, leading to water clean enough for irrigation. The treatment plant is used to teach our students the importance of water treatment by giving them hands-on experience. This leads to changing the attitudes of students towards treated water, thus changing the culture. University staff use the treatment center for research. Many papers have been published and conclusions implemented in this treatment plant, leading to treated water for irrigation, research data, and case studies. This improves sanitation and reuse potential. | |
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02. Wastewater Quality Monitoring
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All wastewater sources on campus are identified and classified based on contamination levels (greywater, sewage). Advanced treatment technologies such as biological filtration, chemical, or thermal treatments are used where needed. Staff researchers lead the campaign to monitor the quality of wastewater, and their recommendations are taken and implemented. These recommendations include:
Quality assurance is maintained through periodic laboratory testing, continuous monitoring of treatment parameters, and collaboration with accredited local environmental agencies to validate compliance with safety standards. This system ensures that treated effluent meets the required standards for safe non-potable applications. Workshops for local farmers and community members on safe reuse lead to trained participants, guidelines, and pilot irrigation projects, thus promoting responsible wastewater reuse. |
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03. Community Training on Wastewater Reuse
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In partnership with the Palestinian Agricultural Relief and the Ministry of Agriculture, and as part of a project to strengthen agricultural production of Palestinian farmers, Kadoorie organized a scientific seminar under the title “Treated Waste Water Reuse in Palestine”. The importance of involving the agricultural sector lies in seeing real treatment plants and their outputs, concentrating on the importance of water reuse for the area. The use of treated wastewater helps solve a large part of irrigation problems and helps maintain water reserves. The seminar included two sessions in which scientific papers on water reuse were discussed. Furthermore, the university offers training for local farmers on the reuse of treated water and other issues related to irrigation and water conservation. Workshops for local farmers and community members on safe reuse lead to trained participants, guidelines, and pilot irrigation projects, thus promoting responsible wastewater reuse. |
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04. Research on Advanced Treatment Technologies
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PTUK is regarded as one of the leading universities in agriculture since it began as an agricultural school. The agricultural department is extremely active in research leading to real solutions for the local community. Faculty-led research on biological, chemical, and membrane-based treatment methods leads to publications, prototypes, and recommendations, and contributes to improving wastewater treatment efficiency. The university provides what is needed, including funding, in order to implement the lessons learned from research. |
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05. Sustainability Activities 2024–2025
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The Palestine Technical University – Kadoorie (PTUK) Sustainability Reports document the university’s efforts to manage wastewater sustainably through an on-campus wastewater treatment plant. The report describes the use of secondary and tertiary treatment processes, including biological filtration and chlorination, to treat wastewater and make it suitable for non-potable applications. The treated water is reused mainly for irrigating green areas, agricultural training fields, and forested areas on campus, as well as for cleaning and landscape maintenance. This practice helps reduce the university’s dependence on freshwater supplies and supports the conservation of limited water resources. The report further indicates that high percentages of the treated wastewater are reused for different purposes. PTUK also highlights the importance of monitoring water quantity and quality through periodic testing and flow measurement to support safe and efficient reuse. These practices contribute to reducing freshwater consumption, improving water-use efficiency, and minimizing the environmental impact of wastewater disposal. The initiative supports SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, particularly the objectives of improving wastewater treatment and increasing the safe reuse of water resources. |
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