Water Scarcity and the Need for Efficient Utilization of Water Resources. Dr. Hazim El-Naser Minister of Water and Irrigation/Jordan

Transcription

1 Water Scarcity and the Need for Efficient Utilization of Water Resources Dr. Hazim El-Naser Minister of Water and Irrigation/Jordan

2 Presentation outline Middle East Hydro-Political Features Actual Renewable Water Resources Aridity Zoning and Population Density in MENA Transboundary Issues Responding to the Water Challenge Overall approach for an Efficient Water Utilization The case of Jordan

3 Middle East Hydro-Political Features Political instability: States enter into political conflict and civil wars; people uprising against their regimes and some fighting terrorism. Transboundary Water Conflict with every and each country Waves of Refugees, displaced persons since 1948, 1967, 1981, 1990, 2003 and 2011 and still ongoing. Climate change: Rainfall is less by 15-20% over the last 70 years Extremely rich and extremely poor countries High population growth rate > 2% and modest economic growth rate Poor water governance

4 Actual Renewable Water

5 Aridity Zoning and Population Density in MENA

6 Transboundary Issues TIGRIS - EUPHRATES BASIN TIGRIS EUPHRATES RIVERS ORIGINATING IN TURKEY SEPARATELY MERGE AS A UNIQUE RIVER IN IRAQ BEFORE DISCHARGING TO PERSIAN GULF Source: Akif ÖZKALDI Water Issues in the Arab World and the Region. ATH, 2010

7 Trans boundary Issues Source: El-Naser, Hazim Water Issues in the Arab World and the Region.The Jordan River Basin, ATH, 2010

8 Responding to the Water Challenge With Such Huge Challenges; What would be the right approach towards efficient utilization of Scarce water resources while bearing in mind the need to supply people with drinking water and sanitation services at low cost while promoting the sustainability concern?

9 Overall approach for an Efficient Water Utilization The regional instability and global strategic changes will significantly influence the way Middle Eastern Countries uses this opportunity to re-engineer its national water strategies towards the successful implementation of the broadened global agenda on water (and sanitation) management, specifically implementing IWRM as a national development strategy. We shall be targeting a sustainable environment, universal access to sustainable sanitation, sound wastewater management and reuse, pollution prevention, safe drinking water delivery, water security and regional cooperation. The strategies shalll build on an efficient and proactive governance mechanism that develops trust in the role of national water institutions and demands optimal performance and participation from all stakeholders.

10 Overall approach for an Efficient Water Utilization The overall goal of IWRM in the ME is to ensure that national water resource management is based on the principles of sustainable use, economic efficiency and social equity including: Economic efficiency in water use. Because of the increasing scarcity of water and financial resources, the finite and vulnerable nature of water as a resource and the increasing demands upon it, water will be used with maximum possible efficiency. Social equity. The basic right for all people to have access to water of adequate quantity and quality for sustaining human wellbeing will be recognized. Environmental and ecological sustainability. The present use of the resource will be managed in a way that does not undermine the life-support system so as not to compromise its use by future generations. This however, requires Global Water Partnership and engagement

11 Overall approach for an Efficient Water Utilization The National Water Strategies shall be based on principles of IWRM, good governance and accountability to the stakeholders will ensure equitable and efficient water allocation for all social and economic development needs in a sustainable manner. Promote the adoption of an integrated approach to planning, development and management of national and shared water resources. Countries shall Promote and facilitate acceptance of and accounting for water as a valuable input in national socioeconomic development and ensure equitable and sustainable allocation of water for meeting national demand, with economic benefits balanced between social obligation and environmental requirements. Countries shall work to enact required institutional reforms and establish appropriate regulations to restructure the water sector in the medium term, based on efficiency, functionality and accountability of roles to cover governance, regulation, supply development, transmission, distribution and advisory services.

12 Overall approach for an Efficient Water Utilization Focus on efficiencies in the use and conservation of water resources for optimal social and economic benefits, including enhancement of shared water resources through transboundary cooperation. Within the strategic water resources planning, develop efficiency standards and update procedures for sector implementation to address among others, asset management, cost recovery, NRW reduction, technology and resource alternatives, revision of building codes and the need to improve agricultural practices and evaluate internal capacities. Facilitate the creation of an enabling environment for integrated planning and management of shared water resources that includes support to the establishment and strengthening of shared watercourse institutions and ensuring a meaningful role for civil society to participate in decisionmaking for river basin/watershed management.

13 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Water use efficiency in the making

14 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

15 Main features The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 3 rd poorest water country in the world 30% of total population are refugees 40% of its water resources shared with regional countries Surrounded by regional conflicts Middle income country with refugees becoming low income country Expensive unit cost in average 3 US$ per cubic meter of water, due to scarcity of water Continuous over pumping of the very precious ground water resources (exceeding 100% of their safe yield) to supply Jordanians and refugees with drinking water Structural imbalance between water supply and demand Consequences of climate change already present

16 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Distribution of water resources in Jordan (992) MCM per Year Renewable Groundwater {safe yield 275+overexploitation 160} (MCM) 435 % 44 Treated wastewater (MCM) 140 % 14 Fossil fresh groundwater (MCM) 144 % 15 Surface water (MCM) % 27 Brackish water (MCM) 10.2 % 1

17 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Water Use Efficiency Limitations and Solutions Water value in the competing sectors of Jordan Water use efficiency (WUE) in the irrigated agriculture Sustainable withdrawals of freshwater resources Reduce overexploitation Energy cost minimization in water production Water Source protection and marginalized water utilization WUE in Domestic water supply and delivery Energy cost minimization Reduce NRW (technical and administrative) Demand management in a severely stressed country Rehabilitation of municipal networks Water conservation and public awareness Water harvesting Reuse schemes Partnerships (PPP,PSP, BOT) for efficient operation of water utilities Technology and knowledge transfer, innovation and regional solutions

18 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan WUE in the irrigated agriculture As a result of a bundle of actions, the total irrigated area has increased by about 50% while water use has decreased by 20%, suggesting that overall irrigation efficiency has improved and agricultural produce has increased 2 to 3 times. IRRIGATED AREA AND IRRIGATION WATER USE ( )

19 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Actions towards WUE for irrigated agriculture Water use efficiency in the JV is relatively high being 960 m3/dunum/yr (a Dunum is 1,000 m2) including conveyance and on-farm efficiency. Freshwater uses in the JV are decreasing and treated wastewater is increasing as a result of the reallocation and water substitution policies over the last 10 years where 125 Million Cubic Meter (MCM) of high quality reclaimed wastewater is in use annually to liberate the fresh water for domestic use.. Increasing trend of trees and vegetables compared to field crops due to farmers improved awareness of the high value cropping patterns which also contribute to water use efficiency. This change is accompanied by a change to irrigation techniques and schemes like drip irrigation and micro sprinklers that resulted in substantial improvement of water use efficiency with tangible results on the production vs water consumption. Support export-oriented value chains results in considerably higher value per unit of water accruing to Jordan s economy than local sale. Food security crops are shipped to neighboring markets after local demand has been satisfied.

20 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Actions towards WUE to Sustain freshwater resources Reduce overexploitation Jordan renewable water resources are currently exploited by 160% of the safe yield where many ecosystems where threatened. Jordan put down concrete steps to bring this overexploitation figure from 160% to 40% over the coming 10 years. Actions included: Tariff was used and being used as a demand management tool to gain water efficiency The groundwater protection by law review and enforcement The illegal water abstraction and use campaign and its components (legal, enforcement actions) and figure on the results Delicate balance between meeting the excessive demand ( mention regional conflicts) and minimize groundwater over abstraction. (Syrian and the national resilience plan).

21 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Synergy of WUE and Energy Efficiency Energy cost minimization in water production Energy efficiency initiatives in water production included technology solutions to: Use Low energy pumps case of Lib and Wala pumping stations Renewable energy initiatives

22 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Innovative Water Quality management State of the art analytical equipment The water sector of Jordan possess a state of the art laboratory that is ISO accredited that ensures safe drinking water and reclaimed wastewater that meet the national standards for the intended use. Currently telemetry is applied to measure the critical water quality parameters around the clock

23 The Case of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan WUE in Domestic water supply and delivery Maximize the efficiency of the distribution network: Reduction of water losses: Non Revenue Water initiatives to reduce technical and administrative losses FARA, SCADA, the rehabilitation of the networks Rehabilitation of networks Changing mechanical / classic water meters to smart water meters: water losses decreased from 49 to 23% Isolation of districts to minimize water losses

24 NRW % WUE as a result of PPP for Amman Governorate 60,00 Amman Governorate NRW progression 50,00 40,00 30,00 20,00 10,00 0, Year

25 Revenue in JODs WUE as a result of PPP for Amman Governorate Amman Governorate Total Revenues Year

26 The way forward The Case The of way the forward Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Technology and knowledge transfer, innovation and regional solutions to leverage water efficiency Water tariff continues to be an efficient tool for efficient utilization of water resources Energy efficiency and renewable energy should continue to be a major policy to reduce cost and save the environment Public private partnership to enhance water and sanitation management and operations Water should be considered as a priority sector to donors considering the expensive development of water unit cost Public awareness and education and stakeholder participation is a major element towards water use efficiency Promote Regional cooperation for development of regional water projects to utilize economies of scale (Red dead conveyance project). Rehabilitation of networks and reduction of NRW.