Desalination 246 (2009) 613–616

The ONEP experience for wastewater treatment in small

communities: current situation and prospective
Mahi Mustapha
Office National de l’Eau Potable (ONEP), Direction Assainissement et Environnement, Avenue Mohamed Belhassan
El Ouazzani, BP Rabat-Chellah 10002, Rabat, Maroc
Tel. +212 3 775 2476; +212 3 765 2217; Fax: +212 3 765 5686; email: mumahi@onep.ma

Received 17 April 2008; Accepted 19 September 2008

Abstract
Sanitation techniques that are low cost and non-conventional are the adequate solution for the treatment of
wastewater for small communities in rural areas. This work presents the experience of the ONEP used in some small
and medium sized communities. Also, within the framework of the sanitation programme, the ONEP carried out a
series of studies for sanitation treatment plants for urban and rural centres in Morocco. Currently, the ONEP manages
about twenty wastewater treatment plants in Morocco. The most widespread process is the lagoon system.

Keywords: ONEP; Lagoon system; Sanitation; Wastewater pollution; Reuse

1. Introduction resources. Moreover, the experience of Morocco

Since the 1960s, Morocco has made important
efforts of mobilization of its hydraulic potential
to face the increase in population and to support
its economic and social development. However,
parallel to the continuation of the effort of mobili-
zation and with the control of demand, the limited
hydraulic potential requires Morocco to have
recourse to unconventional resources.
The use of treated wastewaters in irrigation
is necessary for a better economy of water
in this field has proved the feasibility of the reuse
projects.
In Morocco prohibition by law of irrigation
with non-treated wastewater is not respected. In
fact, the consumer of agricultural products and
the farmers are exposed to pathogens. The actual
volume of wastewater produced in urban areas is
600 Mm3. More than 58% of this volume will be
discharged at the coast and the rest in the rivers
and valleys without prior treatment. Only 8% of
the wastewater is treated.

Presented at the 2nd International Congress, SMALLWAT 07, Wastewater Treatment in Small Communities, Seville, Spain,
11–15 November 2007.

0011-9164/09/$– See front matter © 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.

doi:10.1016/j.desal.2008.09.001
614 M. Mustapha / Desalination 246 (2009) 613–616
A new strategy for integrated water manage-
ment has been adopted. The new strategy is based
on supply management, valorization and inte-
gration. It also addresses the need to use non-
conventional water sources including the reuse of
treated wastewater. Action plans including a
National Master Plan for sanitation are in
preparation.
2. Presentation of the ONEP
The Office National de l’Eau Potable
(National Office of Drinking Water ONEP) is
responsible for entire water supply in Morocco. It
also is responsible for sewerage facilities in some
cities. The ONEP is in charge of the following
tasks:
C planning of the water supply at the national
level
C studying, executing and managing potable
water supply
C controlling water pollution
C studying the development of legal and regula-
tory texts with concerned ministries
As of September 2000, ONEP has been given
an additional responsibility: sanitation in middle
and small communities. This new responsibility
will enable ONEP to transport, collect and treat
wastewater if requested by the municipalities.
3. Wastewater characteristics
A statistical study [1] based on master plan
studies to give the profile of wastewater charac-
teristics showed a large variation depending on
the size of the urban city (Table 1). The dif-
ference recorded on BOD5 is due to water
consumption per capita and per day, which is
higher in mid-sized and large cities (higher
standard of living), and to the important water
consumption by low-polluting industrial units
located in the urban area of mid-sized and large
Table 1
Wastewater characteristics
Parameter (mg/l) Urban population
<20,000 20,000 to >100,000
100,000
BOD5 400 350 300
COD 1000 950 850
Total suspended 500 400 300
solids (TSS)
cities leading to a higher dilution of the wastes.
The concentration decreases when the population
increase is due to the dilution of wastewater.
4. Systematic wastewater treatment
Treatment of sanitary or municipal wastewater
and the separated wastewater residues can include
several stages depending on the nature and qual-
ity of the wastewater source and the disposal
environment (i.e., the nature and size of the
receiving body of water for liquids not reused)
and disposal method for residues not re-used.
Treatment stages can include mechanical treat-
ment for removal of larger debris such as rags and
grit, as well as settling and removal of suspended
solids, biological treatment for removal of the
dissolved organic contaminants, removal of nutri-
ents such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and disin-
fection of final effluents to remove/inactivate
pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.
Wastewater systems are built and operated
mainly to protect public health and the environ-
ment. The type of wastewater system should be
chosen and adapted in context with the density of
the population, climatic conditions, environ-
mental requirements for treatment, and the tech-
nical/socioeconomic ability of the responsible
body to implement, operate and maintain it. It
should be cost effective, sustainable and should
permit phased development to overcome the
 M. Mustapha / Desalination 246 (2009) 613–616
financial constraints while not compromising the
stated objectives.
The adoption of waste stabilization ponds
allows the effluent quality to conform to WHO
guidelines and the Moroccan standards.
5. Reuse of wastewater
Treated effluent reuse is different from con-
ventional irrigation. It is necessary to set up a
population awareness program with the help of
the Ministry of health, the local agriculture and
education boards. These campaigns must be
focused on the farmers and their families.
A three-partner contract must be established
between farmer association, operator, Ministry of
Agriculture and Authority.
6. Master sanitation plan
The NPSTW was launched in 2005 [2] in
partnership with the Interior Ministry and Water
and Environment Ministry. The major objectives
of the Master Sanitation Plan (MSP) are:
C to increase the rate of total connection to the
network at 80% in urban area
C to eliminate 60% of the pollution generated by
wastewater (see Fig. 1. [3])
C to target 260 cities
C to consider wastewater reuse
Fig. 1. Evolution of reject wastewater volumes (Mm3/y).
615
Table 2
ONEP’s development program 2006–2009
Year Cost (in millions of
Dirhams)a
2006 794
2007 1327
2008 1103
2009 839
Total period (2006–2009) 4064
a
1 Euro = 11 Dirhams.
Further goals of the MSP are:
C rehabilitation of networks and connections
C extension of the rain network
C service to 260 wastewater treatment plants
C renewal of equipment
The program was estimated at approximately
€4.3 billion, including €1.2 billion for the waste-
water treatment plant. This cost does not include
the over-cost related to the treatment for reuse.
7. ONEP’s development sanitation plan
The characteristics of ONEP’s development
plan of sanitation is given in Table 2 where two
indicators of the sanitation programme are:
C rate of connection in 2010: 80%
C rate of reduction/total pollution: 61%
There are many reuse projects in Morocco:
Ouarzazate (lagoon) Bensergao (filtration–perco-
lation), Benslimane (aerated lagoon), Drarga
(infiltration–percolation). There are also many
studies on the reuse of wastewater:
C Wastewater reuse project for watering the
Mogador golf course.
C Wastewater reuse project for agriculture in the
cities of Al Hoceima, Imzouren, Bni Boua-
yach and Targuist.
C Another project initiated are downstream
wastewater treatment plants built by ONEP
such as Guelmim, Tiznit etc.
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8. Conclusions
The quality of the outflow must be under
continual surveillance and effluent quality ana-
lysis results should be delivered at a regular basis
to the ministry of health or to any other admin-
istration involved in the water sector. However, it
should be stressed that a reuse of treated waste-
water that makes it possible to use these waters
while preserving the environment should be
based on good irrigation practices: types of
irrigation, choice of the crops. In addition, to the
concern about the control of the health aspects,
two parameters should be managed: salinity and
the nutritive elements, particularly nitrogen that
may exceed the usual needs for most crop types.
The relationship between treatment and reuse is
also an important aspect that should be taken into
account.
References
[1] Réutilisation des eaux usées, Schéma Directeur
National d’Assainissement Liquide, 1998.
[2] Plan National d’Assainissement (PNA), Programme
national d’assainissement liquide et d’épuration des
eaux usées 2005. Ministère de L’Intérieur et Mini-
stère de l’Aménagement du Territoire de l’Eau et de
l’Environnement du Maroc.
[3] Conseil Supérieur de l’Eau et du Climat CSEC,
Réutilisation des eaux usées en agriculture, Maroc,
1994.