DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Search for the source of the agricultural production presented in markets has become a focus of attention for many Syrian consumers, in order to know the quality of water used for irrigation.
While other consumers stress that their products come from areas that do not use sewage water for irrigation.
Farmers told North Press that the phenomenon of irrigating agricultural products with the sewage water has exacerbated after the war, due to the disruption of irrigation networks, the unavailability of fresh water and the high costs of pumping or obtaining it, making irrigation with sewage water a “normal behavior.”
Adnan Alo, a farmer from the countryside of Damascus, told North Press that many farmers prefer to use sewage water than fresh water.
Alo said using the sewage water “does not require the use of fertilizers, unlike fresh water.”
Alo pointed out that many farmers in Damascus countryside puncture the pipes designated for sewage, and open channels to collect water in to irrigate their products when needed.
When questioned about how long time has passed since they used this type of water, farmers stressed that it is an old act, but space of the areas irrigated with sewage water has increased and expanded after the war “due to problems of irrigation with fresh water.”
Oversight committees
The phenomenon of irrigation with sewage water spreads in the vicinity of major cities, where big quantities of sewage water are available.
Reports of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Syrian government indicate that committees have been formed with the task to follow up on the issue since 2000.
These committees recently have intensified their work after cholera cases began to emerge, according to the report.
On September 14, the government Health Ministry reported that 53 confirmed cholera cases were recorded in five governorates.
The Ministry recorded seven deaths of cholera, four of them in Aleppo.
Statistics by the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that more than 365 acres of cultivated lands were destroyed in the countryside of each Damascus and Aleppo.
The areas such as (al-Nayrab, Sheikh Saeed, al-Ansari, and Khan Toman) are situated on Queiq River in the countryside of Aleppo.
Sewage water also used for irrigation in Qatana, Duma, Darayya, al-Qutayfah, al-Nabk and al-Tal in the countryside of Damascus.
Dangerous effects
A source of the Ministry of Agriculture told North Press that the impact of using the sewage water for irrigating crops is very negative in the near and long term.
The sewage water contains parasites, viruses and bacteria that cause many diseases and epidemics.
The sewage water affects the composition of the soil and its suitability for agricultural investment.
In addition to threatening public health that contributes in spreading diseases, with the greatest danger of raw vegetables.
The source added that the sewage water causes diseases such as salmonella, fecal coliform, and eggs of parasitic worms.
In addition to dangerous compounds that are transferred to humans and animals that feed on plants.
Penalties
The Syrian law provides penalties for the use of contaminated water for irrigation.
The Article 35 of the Penal Code for water legislation, issued in 2005, stipulates a prison sentence ranging from 3 months to a year, or a fine between 25.000 to 50.000 Syrian pounds for those who use contained water for irrigation.
Since sewage water is among the contaminated water, the space of the areas irrigated with sewage water confirms the penalties stipulated in the law do not work,” according to residents in the countryside of Damascus.