DHV, the Netherlands

DHV, the Netherlands.

Recent projects in Syria:

１．Damascus Water Supply from the Coastal Basin of Syria (2002-2004)

DHV, the Netherlands in association with IBG Switzerland.

Client: Damascus City Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DAWSSA), Syrian Arab Republic
Financing agency: European Commission, Belgium
Syria is a highly water-stressed country, which uses presently about 42% of its total available water volume. Damascus is the largest urban community in Syria and the number of its inhabitants is anticipated to become about 8.3 million in 2020 and 13.8 million people in the year 2040.As a result of increasing water needs and limited local water sources, a serious deficiency of water resources is expected to occur in this city. The Damascus Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DAWSSA) is undertaking a significant initiative to ensure the future water supply for the Damascus metropolitan area. The DHV/IBG-Consortium has been selected to prepare the Feasibility Study for the evaluation of the most practicable and cost-effective concept. Through the project Water Supply of Damascus from the Water Surplus of the Coastal Basin, it studies the feasibility of abstracting water in the Syrian Coastal Basin, where a water surplus exists and to transfer it to Damascus.

The water would be abstracted from groundwater and from large reservoirs in two main rivers (Marqiyeh and Al-Hussein Rivers) in the Syrian Coastal Basin and be pumped through two 2.5 m diameter pipelines of each 300 km length to Damascus City. The capacity of this water supply system would be ca. 14 m3/s in 2020 and 28 m3/s in 2040.

Moreover, the Consortium elaborates the corresponding Master Plan to assure the sustainable water supply of Damascus and is responsible for the tender design and the preparation of the tender documents:

Specific assignments of DHV Water are:

· Assessment of the Water Demand of Damascus City and its Countryside

· Assessment of the Water Availability from the planned reservoir in the Marqiyeh River

· Assessment of the Water Availability from the planned reservoir in the Al- Hussein River

· Study of the Water Surplus of the Coastal Basin.

· Study of the Water Balance of Coastal Basin versus Greater Damascus

· Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the pipeline from Coastal Basin to Damascus

· Review of Dam designs of Marqiyeh and Al-Hussein Rivers.

Figure 1 Map of Syria and location of the planned water pipeline from the

Coastal Basin to Damascus

2. Coastal Water Resources Management Project (2002-2004)

Client: General Directorate of the Coastal Basin, Ministry of Irrigation Syrian Arab Republic
Financing agency: Ministry of Public Works and Water, The Netherlands
This project that is funded by the Netherlands Government, under the flag of the Syrian-Dutch Water Cooperation, is executed by a consortium lead by DHV Water, the Netherlands, in cooperation with the General Directorate of the Coastal Basin in Lattakia.
The Project started in October 2002 and its main purpose is to help develop a consistent long-term vision for water management in the Coastal Basin of Syria.
The project will specifically focus on:

· developing an integrated water management approach for the region, including
· an actualisation of the Coastal Basins water balance,
· optimisation of groundwater development,
· assessing problems and formulating actions for water pollution control,
· detailing options for reuse of wastewater for agricultural purposes and
· linking the basins water resources data to the National Water Resources Database.

The project aims at an output of a practical and integrated water management action plan for the Coastal Basin, including a set of measures for implementation.

The intended project results are:

· a comprehensive and approved Coastal Basin water balance for the next decades;
· a set of measures for optimised development of the coastal groundwater resources;
· a water pollution control strategy;
· formulated wastewater reuse potentials in the Coastal Basin with cost and benefits;
· transfer of project data to the national data bank and
· an integrated Coastal Basin water resources management action plan.

3. Reuse of Wastewater at Aleppo (2002)

Client: Ministry of Irrigation, Syrian Arab Republic
Financing agency: Ministry of Public Works and Water, The Netherlands

To asses the current constraints and opportunities for reuse of wastewater for
irrigation purposes, specifically for the Aleppo region, a study was made with the
following outcomes:

- Groundwater resources near Aleppo are under severe stress

- Industrial wastewater is mixed with domestic wastewater

- BOD and COD influent loads exceed WWTP design parameters

- Farmers reuse polluted wastewater for agricultural purposes, without being aware of the health risks involved.

4. Re-use Wastewater in Damascus (2000 – 2001)

Client: Damascus City Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DAWSSA), Syrian Arab Republic
Financing agency: Ministry of Public Works and Water, The Netherlands
The fast growing city of Damascus is facing water shortages and is considering to transport water from the coastal areas some 350 km distance to bring relief. The Dutch Ministry of Traffic and Hydraulic Works through its programme "Partners for Water" is subsidising a study to assess the potential for re-using waste water of the city. If feasible, this would decrease the size of the pipeline from the coast and thus reduce costs.
This study will consider the effect of improved water collection, treatment and ways to re-use the treated water either direct or through infiltration through soil layers. It will quantify the volumes of wastewater which could be collected. The water supply of Damascus is an important issue in creating stability in this part of the Middle East. The study will complement the planned study of finding water resources near Tartous and the pipeline.

5. Establishment of an Environmental Impact Assessment Unit (1994-1995)

Client: Ministry of State for the Environment (MSE), Syrian Arab Republic
Financing agency: European Investment Bank, [unknown]; International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank, United States
An Environmental Impact Assessment Unit was established within the General Commission of Environmental Affairs of the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs. The current unit has been strengthened, the legal framework developed and environmental operational manuals, for the following industries were set up: cement, power, agri- and food, plastics, textiles, refinery and petrochemicals, fertilizer, and wastewater treatment plants.
Review current status of the EIA Unit, drafting job descriptions, selection candidates. Assessment legal framework, drafting EIA-decree and EIA-procedures. Carrying out pilot EIA on siting of a petroleum refinery in Syria. Drafting of ToR for full EIA on petroleum refinery. Preparation of operational manuals for identification of environmental issues in various industrial sectors. Organization of overseas training of EIA Unit Staff, development and implementation of workshop to Syrian policy and decision makers to raise environmental awareness in adoption of EIA as part of project appraisal. Training materials development and implementation of four- day seminar for technical staff of EIA Unit.