Daraa – Mahjoub al-Hashish

Production is thriving through 17 dairy and cheese factories in al-Nasiriya village (western Daraa countryside, southern Syria, near the administrative border with Quneitra). Yet factory waste is harming the environment and residents, especially since the village lacks a sewage network.

Several residents of al-Nasiriya complain about dairy byproducts, known as whey, which pose health risks and cause foul odors that disturb neighbors of the factories.

One resident, who asked not to be named to avoid problems with factory owners, told Enab Baladi that the pit used for factory wastewater constantly overflows with stagnant sewage, producing a bad smell and attracting mosquitoes and insects.

He added that residents wake up to air filled with smoke from “burners” used to boil milk, which has caused respiratory illnesses among his children.

The village still relies on traditional methods to dispose of wastewater by burying it in deep pits, which risks overflow once the pit fills up.

Little to no effect

Some factory owners in al-Nasiriya try to pump dairy wastewater to the west of the village, while others connect it to household drains ending in buried pits. However, these pits overflow due to frequent use.

Mohammad Arrar, a resident, told Enab Baladi that this issue stems from the absence of a sewage network. It has become a major concern for most residents and sometimes sparks family disputes when wastewater overflows, spreading insects and unpleasant odors.

To save costs, some factory owners operate their burners using worn-out tires, plastic, or nylon, which pollutes the environment and primarily affects people with asthma and respiratory allergies.

Faiz, a resident of the village, said that the smell from burning tires and similar materials triggered a health crisis for him and forced repeated doctor visits. He was advised to avoid any odors linked to plastics or tires.

He said there is no real solution to this problem, as most factory owners use materials that cause such harmful odors.

State responsibility

Mohammad al-Omr, the owner of a dairy and cheese factory in al-Nasiriya, told Enab Baladi that his factory is licensed and pays annual taxes, stressing that removing waste is the state’s responsibility. Still, he said he transports wastewater two kilometers away from the nearest home in al-Nasiriya.

He added that his factory is built outside the zoning plan, and unregulated construction beyond that plan has led to overcrowding. He said he uses diesel to operate the burner and removes waste daily.

Environmental damage

Ali al-Mousa, head of al-Nasiriya municipality, told Enab Baladi that the village contains 17 dairy and cheese factories and is considered a leading production hub, with most of its output shipped to Damascus and other provinces.

He said the core problem is the disposal of whey, which causes sewage pits to overflow as residents continue to rely on primitive methods of wastewater management through buried pits.

He added that some factories divert their wastewater to the western side of the village, depriving families of enjoying the natural area that once served as a local picnic spot.

The situation worsens when factories use plastic materials to fuel burners, causing further environmental pollution.

Solutions need a decision and a budget

One possible solution, according to al-Mousa, is to establish a sewage network in the village. The municipality recently contacted the sanitation directorate to implement such a project, but the directorate replied that it requires ministerial approval and a dedicated budget.

Al-Mousa said the municipal council prepared a topographic survey for the sewage project along with an estimated cost of work and submitted it to the Ministry of Housing and Utilities three years ago, but there has been no response.

The problem is compounded by the terminal point of sewage outflow from some Quneitra villages, which ends near al-Nasiriya and runs with seasonal torrents through the center of the village.

Former municipal head Mohammad Arrar told Enab Baladi that the Quneitra outflow needs a separate project involving the extension of pipelines and the installation of a treatment plant at the end point.

If implemented, such a project could solve about 60% of the village’s sewage problem, since factories could connect their wastewater to these pipes.

A municipality without capacity

Al-Mousa said the council is unable to remove household waste due to a lack of technical capacity. It has no tractor dedicated to waste transport and no workers. The staff consists only of the couثncil head, a technical office director, and an accountant.

As for waste disposal, residents handle it themselves by transporting it to the outskirts of the village or burning it, which also causes environmental pollution.

Al-Nasiriya is the last village in western rural Daraa, located about eight kilometers west of the city of Nawa (western Daraa). It has a population of about 6,000 people, according to municipal data.

Residents depend on dairy production and agriculture. The village also has the al-Nasiriya Dam, which dried up this season due to low rainfall and lack of inflow from Quneitra’s dams.