The transformative role of treated wastewater in North Africa: lessons learned and future directions

The agricultural sector plays a vital role in the economies of North Africa (NA) countries, contributing to GDP and rural livelihoods. However, effective agricultural water management is becoming increasingly difficult due to worsening water scarcity, urbanization and industrial expansion – factors that intensify competition over limited water resources. To address these challenges, countries in the region have begun to adopt non-conventional water resources, including desalinated water, agricultural drainage water, and treated domestic wastewater. Given the high cost of desalination, treated and drainage wastewater are emerging as more viable options for sustaining agricultural production under water stress. This chapter present a comparative, policy-oriented review of the role of drainage and treated wastewater in agricultural water management, focusing on Egypt and Morocco, while drawing lessons from Jordan’s well-established reuse practices in the Asian-Middle Eastern context. It explores the socio-technical drivers, institutional frameworks, and governance challenges shaping wastewater reuse in agriculture. The analysis also considers broader implications for food security, environmental sustainability, and future agricultural planning. By examining these dimensions, the chapter offers insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to scale wastewater reuse as a resilience strategy in arid and semi-arid regions.