1. Non-RenewableGroundwaterManagement inSaudi ArabiaDr. Ali Saad Al-Tokhais

2. Water consumption for Saudi ArabiaSector 20052006 2007 2008 2009 2010Domestic1,748 1,8481,9772,0062,1232,283Industrial 654668683698714753Agricultural 18,58617,003 15,420 15,083 14,747 14,410Total20,98819,519 18,080 17,787 17,584 17,446Unit is MCM/year 3. Background: How much groundwater is available? First assessment of water resources: 1963-1983:Exploration and identification of groundwater resources 1979: British Arabian Advisory Company (BAAC) 1980: Groundwater Development Consultants (GDC) 1983: German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) 1985: Bureau de Recherches Gologiques et Minirs (BRGM) Groundwater reserve: Estimation of groundwater in storage is 428,400 MCM Groundwater abstraction: Total groundwater abstraction of 462,300 MCM (1975 2005) Results: 1.Drying up of natural springs 2.Declining groundwater levels of all aquifers 3.Deterioration of water quality What is next: The Ministry of Water & Electricity (MoWE) is working on the reassessment of the water resources since 2003 4. Geology Arabian PeninsulaGeological Map 5. Geology Arabian PeninsulaArabian Shield Igneous & metamorphic rocksVolcanic rocks(Harrats) 6. Geology Arabian PeninsulaArabian PlatformSedimentarysuccession 7. Geology Arabian Peninsula 8. Precipitation Arabian PeninsulaAnnual rainfall mm/a 9. Major water provinces in Saudi ArabiaRed Sea CoastThe water resources ofthis area are made up bydesalinated seawater,renewable waterresources, and treatedwaste water 10. Major water provinces in Saudi ArabiaNorthernArabian ShieldDesalinated seawater,renewable waterresources, and treatedwaste water are the onlywater resource in thisarea. However, theamount of renewableresources is low comparedto the Southern Shield,because the rainfall islower. 11. Major water provinces in Saudi ArabiaSouthernArabian ShieldSignificant amounts ofrainfall (up to 400 mm/a)enable a water supply thatis based solely onrenewable waterresources. This is the onlyarea in Saudi Arabia,where a sustainable use ofthe water is possible.Desalinated seawater andtreated waste water areamong the waterresources 12. Major water provinces in Saudi ArabiaArabian PlatformIn this area, only non-renewable ground-waterresources exist. Someremote supply fromdesalinated seawaterfrom the East Coast takesplace. 13. Major water provinces in Saudi ArabiaEast CoastDesalinated seawater and,to much lesser extent,non-renewablegroundwater resources aswell as treated wastewater make up the waterresources of this area. 14. Extent of principal aquifers on the Arabian Platform Umm Er Radhuma & overlying aquifers Wasia-Biyadh-ArumaKhuff-Jilh-MinjurWajid & Saq 15. Major aquifer types on the Arabian PlatformBedrock aquifersSandstone aquifersKarst aquifersFractures with permeable matrix Conduit system with a karstified rock matrixExamples: Examples:Wajid, Saq, Dhruma, Minjur, Wasia, Biyadh Aruma, Umm Er Radhuma, Dammam 16. Objectives of reassessment of the water resources studies Assessment of groundwater budgetWhat are the in- and outflows to the aquifer system? Assessment of groundwater resourcesHow much groundwater is (still) available? Managing of groundwater resources How can we make best use of the groundwater resource? Is sustainable non-renewable groundwater managementpossible in arid countries? 17. Flow chart: aquifers studiesCollection andinterpretation of dataDevelopment of aquifermodelApplication of aquifermodel as amanagement tool 18. Groundwater modelElevation modelGeology 3D-geology Hydrogeological model Groundwater model 19. Groundwater modelElevation modelGeology 3D Stereoscopic visualization 20. Groundwater budget: predevelopment state (before1965)Inflow:Outflow: groundwater recharge spring discharge inflow through wadi channels inland and coastal sabkhas Arabian Gulf 21. Groundwater budget: present stateInflow: Outflow: groundwater recharge agricultural water use inflow through wadi channels industrial water use domestic water use 22. Total water budget for Saudi Arabia 23. Consequences of high groundwater abstractions1. Declining groundwater levels / large groundwater drawdown2. Increase in production costs due to high pumping lifts3. Destruction of the environment and increasing desertification zones4. Deterioration of groundwater quality / salt water intrusion5. Conflict between water users: agriculture, industry, domestic water use present generation / future generation6. Possible land subsidence 24. Umm Er Radhuma aquifer: Al Hassa Drying up of springs Declining groundwater levels Large scale groundwater drawdown Deterioration of groundwater quality 25. Drawdown in Saq and Wasia Biyadh aquifer Saq: Hail-Buraydah-Wasia-Biyadh: Tabuk region Al Kharj region 26. Location of main consumers Conflict in supply between: - Urban centers - Agriculture 27. Indicators for change in water strategy 2003: Establishment of the Ministry of Water & Electricity (MoWE). Separation of the agricultural sector from the water sector. 2003: Launch of reassessment of the water resources. Studies will be finished by 2014. 2008: Establishment of National Water Company (NWC). 2008: Phasing out wheat production until 2016 (Royal Decree 335). 2010: Intensive development of groundwater resources for municipal water supply. 2010: Preparation of comprehensive water law. 28. Development of irrigated area 1985 - 2010 29. Irrigation efficiency Crop consumptive use and groundwater abstraction in Saudi Arabia Irrigation efficiency must be increased. Comparing crop consumptive use to groundwater abstraction shows that irrigation efficiency is below 50%. Further efforts are required by the Ministry of Agriculture in order to increase irrigation efficiency to reach minimally 70%. 30. Question and challenges Question: Should non-renewable groundwater be pumped for maximum benefit of the present generation without a concern about over drafting the aquifers? or Should the present groundwater withdrawal be limited to preserve the resource for the future generations? Challenges in managing non-renewable groundwater 1.Rapid aquifer depletion 2.Rapid increase in urban water demand 3.High agricultural water demand 31. Solutions 1. Improve IWRM to achieve groundwater sustainability 2. Decrease non-renewable groundwater abstraction 3. Increase irrigation efficiency 4. Implementation of virtual water program for agriculturalproduction 5. Make groundwater protection everybodys responsibility 32. Thank you very muchfor your kindattention