Groundwater Resources Management in the GCC...
Transcript of Groundwater Resources Management in the GCC...
Groundwater Resources Management in the GCC CountriesEvaluation, Challenges & Suggested FrameworkDr. Waleed K Al-Zubari
Introduction GW Resources & Utilization in GCC Key Challenges for GW Management in GCC Analysis of Status of GW Management in GCC GW Resources Management Strategies GW Quality Protection Strategies GW Simulation Modeling Use of DSS in GW Management and Planning Utilization of Non-Renewable GW GW Abstraction Rights, Monitoring & Tariffs Conclusion & Recommendations
Overview
Introduction GW vital and essential source for all sectors in GCC
GW dependency ratio averages 75% (>90% in KSA and Oman)
Accelerated development growth since the mid-1970s Substantial increase in water demands (agricultural
policies and rapid municipal expansion) Met mainly by GW
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GCC Water Demands, BcmGCC Population, Millions
All GCC are experiencing GW deficits Continuous water level declines Degradation of quality by salinization & anthropogenic
activities (Agricultural, Urban, Industrial) Loss of GW resources will have dire consequences
and impacts on GCC societies: Heavy burden on national budgets (marginal cost of
providing replacement supplies) Socio-economic development (e.g., agricultural sector
losses) Damage the environment (springs and aflaj) and the
fragile water-dependent ecosystems Opportunity costs (among competing users) Increase the water scarcity in the region
Cont., Introduction
Mostly arid to extremely arid climatic conditions Small and irregular rainfall in space and time (<100 mm/yr) High evaporation rates ( >3000 mm/yr)
Generally devoid of surface water resources, depends mainly on GW (majority is fossil), Desalination, lesser on TSE
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Groundwater Resources & Utilization
The GCC have an extremely poor endowment of natural water resources
Available groundwater Resources Renewable shallow alluvial aquifers (recharge 3.5 Bcm/y) Deep non-renewable “fossil” (estimated reserves 2,175
Bcm?)
Scarcity of natural resources is aggravated by high population growth (>3%) Per capita freshwater
continue to decrease
Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz…
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Per Capita Available Water Share in GCC, 1950-2000
76.0%
19.5%4.5%
46.6%
43.9%
9.5%
95.7%
1.7%
2.7%
56.5%
25.0%
18.5%
94.7%
0.8%
4.4%
78.3%
18.7%3.0%
7.2%
1.7%
91.0%
Bahrain Kuwait Oman
Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE
All GCC CountriesAll GCC Countries
Groundwater
Desalinated Water
Reused Water
GCC Water Resources
Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz…
57.3%
38.1% 4.6%
51.0%
46.9% 2.1%
92.3%
0.5%
7.2%
76.8%
19.4%3.9%
87.8%
0.9%
11.3%
69.6%
27.1% 3.3%
13.7%
1.2%
85.1%
Bahrain Kuwait Oman
Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE
All GCC CountriesAll GCC Countries
Agricultural
Municipal
Industrial
GCC Sectoral Water Use
Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz…
Groundwater91%
Treated Wastewater
1.7%
Desalinated Water7.2%
IndustrialIndustrial
MunicipalMunicipal
AgriculturalAgricultural 85.1%
13.7% 1.2%
Agricultural PoliciesAgricultural Policies
Population & Population & UrbanizationUrbanizationGrowing!
MainPressures
Groundwater Resources & Use
Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz…
Percent Growth in Water Demands
Source: Al-Alawi and Abdulrazzak, 1994; WB, 2005
Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz…
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UAE GCC
%
1980-1990
1990-2000
Average
Supply-Driven Groundwater Development Leading to a
“Vicious Cycle”
Integrated Groundwater Resources Management Leading to a
“Virtuous Cycle”
THERE IS THERE IS MUCH TO BE MUCH TO BE
DONEDONE
TO MOVE TO MOVE FROM THE FROM THE CURRENT CURRENT
CYCLE TO THE CYCLE TO THE OTHER OTHER CYCLE!CYCLE!
Key Challenges for GW Management
(Source: GWMATE, 2003)
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Stages of Groundwater Resource Development in a Major Aquifer and their Corresponding Management Needs
(Source: GWMATE, 2003)
most aquifers in GCC
Groundwater exploitation Bahrain, 1925-2002
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GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS
LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OF CORRESPONDING TOOL OR INSTRUMENT(according to hydraulic stress stage), Source: GWMATE, 2003
0 1 2 3
TECHNICAL TOOLS
Resource Assessment basic knowledge of aquifer conceptual model based on field data
numerical models operational with simulation of different abstraction.
models linked to decision-support and used for planning and management
Quality Evaluation no quality constraints experienced
quality variability is issue in allocation
water quality processes understood
quality integrated in allocation plans
Aquifer Monitoring no regular monitoring program
project monitoring, ad-hoc exchange of data
monitoring routines established monitoring programs used for management decisions
INSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS
Water Rights customary water rights occasional local clarification of water rights (via court cases)
recognition that societal changes override customary water rights
dynamic rights based on management plans
Regulatory Provisions only social regulation restricted regulation (e.g. licensing of new wells, restrictions on drilling)
active regulation and enforcement by dedicated agency
facilitation and control of stakeholder self-regulation
Water Legislation no water legislation preparation of groundwater resource law discussed
legal provision for organization of groundwater users
full legal framework for aquifer management
Stakeholder Participation
little interaction between regulator and water users
reactive participation and development of user organizations
Stakeholder organizations co-opted into management structure
stakeholders and regulator share responsibility for aquifer management
Awareness and Education
groundwater is considered an infinite and free resource
finite resource (campaigns for water conservation and protection)
economic good and part of an integrated system
effective interaction and communication between stakeholders
Economic Instruments economic externalities hardly recognized (exploitation subsidized)
only symbolic charges for water abstraction
recognition of economic value (reduction and targeting of fuel subsidies)
economic value recognized (adequate charging and increased possibility of reallocation)
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
Prevention of Side Effects
little concerns for side effects
recognition of (short- and long-term) side effects
preventive measures in recognition of in-situ value
mechanism to balance extractive uses and in-situ values
Resources Allocation limited allocation constraints
competition between users priorities defined for extractive use
equitable allocation of extractive uses and in-situ values
Pollution Control few controls over land use and waste disposal
land surface zoning but no proactive controls
control over new point source pollution and/or siting of new wells in safe zones
control of all point and diffuse sources of pollution; mitigation of existing contamination
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS
LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OF CORRESPONDING TOOL OR INSTRUMENT
0: BASELINE SITUATION
1: INCIPIENT STRESS
2: SIGNIFICANT STRESS
3: UNSTABLE DEVELOPMENT
TECHNICAL TOOLS
Resource Assessment
Quality Evaluation
Aquifer Monitoring
INSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS
Water Rights
Regulatory Provisions
Water Legislation
Stakeholder Participation
Awareness and Education
Economic Instruments
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
Prevention of Side Effects
Resources Allocation
Pollution Control
Levels of Groundwater Management Tools, Instruments and Interventions Necessary (Bahrain as a typical Case of the GCC)
(Source GWMATE, 2003)
Areas of Major
Management Deficiencies
We Need to be here
Demand Management Agricultural Sector
Groundwater Management Strategies
Increase in Areas under Irrigation in GCC, 1965-2002
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KSA (LS)
UAE (RS)
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Kuwait (RS)
Qatar (RS)Bahrain (RS)
Example: Wadi Al-Sarhan, KSA
Cont., GW Management Strategies
Irrigation Water Share of Total Groundwater Abstraction in the GCC, 2000
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Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar SaudiArabia
UAE Total
WB, 2005
Cont., GW Management Strategies
Cont., Demand Management in Agricultural Sector Agriculture is now the main groundwater consumer
(85%) Irrigation efficiencies low at 30-45%; major “real”
savings can be achieved! Traditional irrigation practices Lack of monitoring and tariffs for irrigation water Low value & high water consumption crops Urgent need to apply demand management To move towards modern irrigation and agricultural
techniques (e.g., soilless culture)
Cont., GW Management Strategies
Supply Management & Augmentation Desalinated Water
very rapid development to meet spiraling domestic water supply quality requirements in major cities in GCC
Used directly or blended with groundwater Currently GCC possesses
about 45% of total world desalination capacity
GCC remain an importer for the technology
Estimated total cost of desalination in the GCC over 21 billion US$
Negative environmental impacts (air and marine)
Cont., GW Management Strategies
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Development of Desalination Capacity in the GCC Countries, 1980-2000
TSE use in agriculture Tertiary & advanced treatment facilities Treated sewage effluent only 20% of municipal water
volumes (2000) Problems of wastewater discharge to shallow aquifers
and marine environment, and water table rise in urban areas
Only 60% of treated wastewater is used (12% of domestic supply)
Used mainly in landscaping and ornamentation
Ambitious GCC plans for reuse an important component in the
GCC water budget in the future
Cont., GW Management Strategies
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Aquifer Recharge Enhancement Dams Construction (capturing runoff and
groundwater artificial recharge)
80 58
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Dams Capacity in some GCC Countries
Cont., GW Management Strategies
Cont., GW Management Strategies
Example of Water Harvesting structures &
Artificial Recharge in Al-Daraiah Region,
Saudi Arabia (Al-Turbak and Al-Dossari, 2005)
Aquifer Recharge Enhancement Water Harvesting
Cont., GW Management Strategies
Water levels in the observation bores of the injection scheme
012345678
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Observation well No.m
bgs 2005
2000
Example of Injection of Tertiary Treated
Wastewater to combat seawater intrusion in Salalah Plain Aquifer,
Sultanate of Oman (Shamas, 2006) 2000
2005
Aquifer Recharge Enhancement Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) for unused water
(Desalinated & TSE) Salalah, Oman, TSE since 2000, to combat saline water intrusion and
for reuse by farmers Kuwait (planned?) Abu Dhabi, Pilot stage indicated that 18.2 Mm3 (4 BIG) of fresh water
can be stored with 88% system efficiency
Cont., GW Management Strategies
Aquifer Recharge Enhancement Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) techniques for
secondary/tertiary treated wastewater In the experimental Stages, but have good potential
e.g., KISR (Kuwait), RI/KFUPM (Saudi Arabia) However, need very careful planning (pollutants,
effectiveness, and recovery)
GW Quality Protection Strategies Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment (General)
Provide policy makers with groundwater regions most susceptible to anthropogenic contamination
Land management practices can be optimized to protect groundwater
Example of Vulnerability Mapping and Assessment for Groundwater in Kuwait
(Al-Tahou, 2006)
Cont., GW Quality Protection Strategies
Well Head Protection Area (Specific) GCC Domestic water supply relies on groundwater
(54%) and desalinated water (46%) Groundwater pollution hazard assessment to promote
municipal authorities and environmental regulators to take both preventive and corrective actions
ToT method (modeling pathline analysis)
Example of WHPA + Vulnerability Mapping for the Alluvium Aquifer in in Wadi Al-Jizzi, Sultanate of Oman (Al-Shoukri, 2002)
Essential planning and management tools Observation of model performance under different
development and management options aids in selecting an optimum set of operating conditions to use groundwater without endangering its sustainability
GW Simulation Modeling
Use of Simulation Modeling in Studying Control of Seawater
Intrusion in the Coastal Aquifer, UAE (ESCWA, 2001)
Rus-UER Aquifer, Bahrain
In many forms, shapes, purposes, and techniques Simulation & Optimization GIS DBM systems Multi-objective Decision Support Tools …
Important tools to support the decision making process in GW resources management
Evaluate the effectiveness of different policy options of supply enhancement and demand management for long term sustainability of groundwater resources
Decision Support Systems
Applying DPSIR Framework on GW
Drivers
Pressures
State
Responses
Impact
Groundwater over-draft, lowering water levels and salinization, pollution loads
Economic, Social & Ecological losses
Agricultural demand
management measures, supply
management & augmentation
(Artificial recharge, TSE reuse, Desal.),
Awareness, Protection strategies,
Technological fixes, … etc.
Demographic, Economic
development, Technology, Agricultural
Policies
Increasing Demands, sectoral utilization &
competition, anthropogenic pollution,
Responses
Effectiveness
Partial control
DM Aquifer storage
Inflow Outflow
Agricultural demand
Municipal demandIndustrial demand
Desalination
TSE
population
growth
food demand
growth rate
Graph 1Table 1agricultural dm measures
Tariffs
UFW
KSA underflow
ArtRech
gw tariff
domestic demand
changing crop type
modern irrigationmodern agriculture
domestic dm measuresothers sectors demand
Awareness
Example on the Use of Dynamic
Modeling (STELLA) in the Management of
Groundwater Resources in
Bahrain
Agricultural sector dynamics
Domestic sector dynamics
Population dynamicsPopulation dynamics
Intensive mining of non-renewable GW, quality deterioration and depletion (mainly for agriculture)
Utilization of Non-Renewable GW
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Total dependency
AGR dependencyMUN dependency
Fossil Groundwater Dependency in GCC
Data Source: Bazza, 2005
Defining “sustainability” for non-renewable GW resources! Socio-economic approach & considerations
The potential alternative uses (present and future) of aquifer reserves
The value of the proposed use(s) in relation to the in-situ value of groundwater
The ‘what happens after’ question, “replacement water resources”, and the probable ‘exit strategy’
Need to be treated as a public property To be utilized with maximum hydraulic efficiency and
economic productivity Public awareness on the nature and uniqueness of non-
renewable GW
Cont., Utilization of Non-Renewable GW
Targets of non-renewable groundwater resources management in rationalization scenario following indiscriminate and
excessive exploitation
we are here, but which way to go next?
Cont., Utilization of Non-Renewable GW
(Source GWMATE, 2003)
GW resources should be declared as “Public Property”
Restricted abstraction rights Groundwater abstraction tariffs for rationalization Detailed monitoring of GW abstraction, sectoral
use, and state variables (potentiometry and quality) Appropriate institutional arrangements including
Dbase systems for archiving, processing, interpretation, and dissemination of information
GW Abstraction Rights, Monitoring & Tariffs
Conclusion & Recommendations GW are essential water for GCC socio-economic
development (GW Dependency Ratio=75%) GW resources are being over-drafted and
threatened by surface pollution (Invisible source) Diagnosis indicates major deficiencies in
management interventions, mainly “institutional instruments” side
“Managerial” challenge rather than a “Technical” Utilization of non-renewable groundwater
resources need to be based on a socio-economically sustainable approach
Thank Thank YouYou!!