Maher Abu-Madi
Maher Abu-Madi
Dr. Maher Abu-Madi was born on 19th January 1969 in Palestine. In 1993, He obtained his Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi, India. In 1996, he obtained his MSc. degree in Sanitary Engineering from UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education and Research, Delft, The Netherlands. In 2004, he obtained his Ph.D. degree in Water and Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Delft and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education and Research, Delft, The Netherlands. The theme of his PhD research was on management and economics of wastewater treatment and reuse for agricultural irrigation in the MENA region.
Currently, he is (1) an Associate Professor of Water and Environmental Studies at the Institute of Environmental and Water Studies (IEWS), Birzeit University, and (2) the national coordinator of the Palestinian-Dutch Academic Cooperation Program on Water (PADUCO). He was, for a long period, the Partnership Collaboration Coordinator of UNESCO-IHE Global Partnership for Water Education and Research, The Netherlands. He functioned as the Local Core Technical Advisor (Water) to the Netherlands Representation to the Palestinian Authority. He was a Board Member of the Palestinian Water Sector Regulatory Council. He worked for the Arab Water Academy in Abu Dhabi as the “Education and Training Officer” during the period 15 Dec. 2010 – 30 Jun. 2011.
He managed and participated in many international joint research projects. He designed many capacity building programs that target the PoWER partners as well as in Palestine. He led a team for an international training needs assessment that was used as a yardstick for identifying different educational and training programs in the partner institutions. He is a frequent reviewer of scientific papers to many international peer reviewed journals and proposals. He has substantial knowledge on innovative education and training. He maintains good connectivity with a wide network of international professionals and institutions related to the water sector.
Dr. Abu-Madi is well known for his knowledge and expertise in the field of water transport and distribution. He teaches this subject in the MSc program at Birzeit University and partly in The Netherlands. He conducted many training programs targeting different categories of engineers in the field of water distribution networks using different software programs.
He has a modest number of scientific publications in peer reviewed journals, conferences, books, and symposia. He participated in more than 50 international technical meetings in Asia, the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East including CSD 13 in New York, World Water Forum III in The Hague, WWF V in Istanbul, and WWF VI in Marseille.
He worked as a consultant to a number of local and international institutions on different aspects of water resources management. He was a member of the ICBA international team for developing a water and wastewater master plan for Abu Dhabi and another for the entire UAE.
Key Qualifications:
- Water transport and distribution.
- Water resources management with emphasis on non-conventional water resources.
- Appropriate reuse of reclaimed wastewater for different purposes.
- Socio-cultural assessment of water projects and wastewater reuse practices.
- Cost calculation of wastewater treatment and reuse.
- Economic valuation (cost-benefit analysis) of wastewater treatment and reuse practices.
Journal peer reviewed papers:
- Somuah Junior Tenkorang, Samuel Odai, Adjei Kwaku Amaning, Frank Annor, Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, Abu Madi Maher. (2014). Impacts of variable energy prices on the financial sustainability of water facilities: a case from Ghana. International Journal of Water 8 (2), 200-218
- Abu-Madi, M. and Trifunovic, N. (2013). Impacts of supply duration on the design and performance of intermittent water distribution systems in the West Bank. Water International Journal, Volume: 38, Issue: 03, PP. 263 - 282. (ID: 794404 DOI:10.1080/02508060.2013.794404).
- Abu-Madi, M. and Abu Rayyan, M. (2013). Estimation of Main Greenhouse Gases Emission from Household Energy Consumption: the Case of West Bank, Palestine. Environmental Pollution Journal, Vol. 179 (2013), pp. 250-257. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.022
- Mimi, Z., Mahmoud, N., and Abu-Madi, M. (2011). Modified DRASTIC assessment for intrinsic vulnerability mapping of karst aquifers: a case study. Journal of Environmental Earth Sciences. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-011-1252-0.
- Al-Sa`ed, R., Abu-Madi, M., and Zimmo, O. (2011). Novel Design Concept for Facultative Ponds Using Rock Filters to Reclaim the Effluent. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 137, 284 (2011); doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000318, pp. 213-306
- Abu-Madi, M. (2010). Impacts of changing energy prices on the financial viability of agricultural groundwater wells in Tulkarm district- Palestine. International Journal of Water, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2010, pp 205-222.
- Al-Deek, Z., Abu-Madi, M., and Al-Sa’ed, R. (2010). Acceptance of rural communities in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate to use treated wastewater. Derasat Journal, Vol. 37, Issue 1. University of Jordan.
- Abu-Madi, M. (2009). Farm-level perspectives regarding irrigation water prices in the Tulkarm district – Palestine. The Journal of Agricultural Water Management, Vol. 96, No. 9, September 2009, pp: 1344-1350.
- Al-Sa’ed, R., Abu-Madi, M., and Heun, J. (2009). Enhancing local knowledge and capacity development for sustainable management of water and environmental resources in Palestine. International Journal of Applied Environmental Education and Communication, Vol. 8 No. 1, 2009, pp: 30-39.
- Abu-Madi, M., Braadbaart, O., Al-Sa’ed, R., and Alaerts, G. (2008). Public perceptions towards wastewater reuse in Jordan and Tunisia. The Arab Water Journal, Issue 2, pp 18-32.
- Abu-Madi, M. and Al-Sa’ed, R. (2009). Towards sustainable wastewater reuse in the MENA Region. Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development, Spring Issue 2, Columbia University, NY.
- Abu-Madi, M., Braadbaart, O., Al-Sa’ed, R., and Alaerts, G. (2008). Viability o increasing irrigation water tariffs as a tool to stimulate reuse in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Water Science & Technology—WST Vol. 57 No 9 pp 1475–1481. IWA Publishing 2008.
- Abu-Madi, M., Braadbaart, O., Al-Sa’ed, R., and Alaerts, G. (2003). Willingness of farmers to pay for reclaimed wastewater in Jordan and Tunisia. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 115-122. IWA Publishing 2003.
Book Contributions:
- Ministry of Environment and Water. (2010). United Arab Emirates Water Conservation Strategy, UAE.
- Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, EAD. (2009). Abu Dhabi Wastewater Reuse Master Plan.
- Abu-Madi, M. (2008). Chief-Editor of proceedings. First Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse for Water Demand Management in Palestine, 2-3 April, 2008, Birzeit University.
- Abu-Madi, M., Al-Sa’ed, R., Mahmoud, N., and Burnat, J. (2009). Comparative socio-economic study between greywater and cesspit systems in Western Ramallah – Palestine. Chapter 5 in the Book: “Greywater Use in the Middle East: Technical, Social, Economic and Policy Issues”. Edited by Stephen McIlwaine and Mark Redwood. Pp. 89-100, Practical Action Publishing, UK.
- Abu-Madi, M. (2004). Incentive systems for wastewater treatment and reuse in irrigated agriculture in the MENA Region: Evidence from Jordan and Tunisia. PhD thesis, Delft University of Technology and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands.
- Abu-Madi, M. (2003). The limit is 40 cubic meters. The Book of Water Stories. International Research Center (IRC), the Netherlands.
- Zimmo, O., Petta, G., Mahmoud, N., Al-Saed, R., Mimi, Z., and Abu-Madi, M. (2005). Prospects of efficient wastewater management and water reuse in Palestine: country study. Prepared within the Framework of the EMWater-Project “Efficient Management of Wastewater, its Treatment and Reuse in the Mediterranean Countries”.
- Abu-Madi, M. (1996). Computer modeling of water distribution systems with intermittent supply (case study: Tulkarm, Palestine). MSc thesis, EE 217, April 1996, International Institute for Infrastructural Hydraulic Environmental Engineering (IHE), Delft, the Netherlands.
Conference papers:
Hamrasheh, B., Abu-Madi, M., Mahmoud, N., and Al-Sa’ed, R. (2012). Impacts of Potential Climate Change on Rainfed Agriculture in Jenin District, Palestine. In Conference Proceedings: Water Crisis and Agricultural Development in Palestine, 21-22 May 2012, Palestine Technical University, Khadoorie, Palestine
Abu-Madi, M., Mimi, Z., and Sinokrot, N. (2009). Building a participatory national consensus towards wastewater reclamation and reuse in Palestine. Proceedings of Second International conference on the Palestinian Environment, 13-15 October 2009, An-Najah National University, Palestine.
Abu-Madi, M., Mimi, Z., and Abu-Rmaileh, N. (2008).Public perceptions and knowledge towards wastewater reuse in agriculture in Deir Debwan. Proceedings of First Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse for Water Demand Management in Palestine, 2-3 April, 2008, Birzeit University.
Abu-Madi, M. and Aleiwi, A. (2008). Costs and benefits of wastewater treatment and reuse for irrigation in Wadi Al-Nar, Palestine. Presented at the First Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse for Water Demand Management in Palestine, 2-3 April, 2008, Birzeit University.
Al-Deek, Z., Abu-Madi, M., and Al-Sa’ed, R. (2008). Acceptance of rural communities in Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate to use treated wastewater. Proceedings of First Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse for Water Demand Management in Palestine, 2-3 April, 2008, Birzeit University.
Is’eed, R., Ghanem, M., and Abu-Madi, M. (2008). Willingness to use treated wastewater and to pay for its irrigated products in Dura – Hebron. Proceedings of First Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse for Water Demand Management in Palestine, 2-3 April, 2008, Birzeit University.
Abu-Madi M., Al-Sa’ed R., Mahmoud N., and Burnat J. (2007) Socio-economic assessment of graywater treatment systems in western Ramallah. Proceedings of the International Conference: Sustainable Development and Management of Water Resources in Palestine”, 25-28 August 2007, Amman, Jordan.
Abu-Madi, M. (2007). Cost Benefit Analysis of wastewater reuse considering cultural and ethical aspects in the MENA region. International Symposium on wastewater reclamation and reuse, Branschweig, 10-12 Oct 2007, Germany.
Abu-Madi, M., Braadbaart, O., Al-Sa’ed, R., and Alaerts, G. (2007). Viability of increasing irrigation water tariffs as a tool to stimulate reuse in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Presented at the 6th IWA conference on wastewater reclamation and reuse for sustainability, Antwerp, 9-12 Oct 2007, Belgium.
Al-Sa`ed, R., Mahmoud, N., Abu-Madi, M., and Zimmo, O. (2007). Enhancement of waste stabilization ponds efficacy using local fixed film materials. Proc. Kalmar ECO-TECH ´07 and the Third Baltic Symposium on Environmental Chemistry, 26-28 November, Kalmar, Sweden.
Abu-Madi, M., Al-Sa’ed, R., Mahmoud, N., and Burnat, J. (2007). Socio-economic assessment of greywater treatment systems. Regional Greywater Expert Meeting, Aqaba-Jordan 11-15 Feb 2007. IDRC and CSBE.
Abu-Madi, M. and Al-Sa`ed, R. (2005). Cost comparison of wastewater treatment technologies in Jordan and Tunisia. Proceedings of the International Conference on Water Values and Rights, 2-7 May 2005, Ramallah.
Abu-Madi, M., Braadbaart, O., Al-Sa’ed, R., and Alaerts, G. (2004). Incentive systems for wastewater treatment and reuse in irrigated agriculture in Jordan and Tunisia. Presented at the International Water Demand Management Conference, 30 May-3 June 2004, the Dead Sea, Jordan.
Abu-Madi, M., Braadbaart, O., Al-Sa’ed, R., and Alaerts, G. “Acceptance and willingness of farmers to pay for irrigation with reclaimed wastewater in the Middle East and North Africa Region”. Presented at the Regional Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse, Crete- Heraklion 25-30 Sep 2002, Greece.
Abu-Madi, M., Al-Sa`ed, R., Braadbart, O., and Alaerts, G. (2000). Selection criteria for appropriate sanitation in the Palestinian rural and semi-urban communities. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Water Sector Capacity Building and Research in Palestine, Birzeit University, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Birzeit, West Bank, Palestine.
Trifunovic, N. and Abu-Madi, M. (1999). Demand modeling of water distribution networks with individual storage. A paper presented in Water-99 conference, Arizona.