Groundwater Resources Management in the GCC Countries Evaluation, Challenges &

Transcription

1 Groundwater Resources Management in the GCC Countries Evaluation, Challenges & Dr. Waleed K Al-Zubari Suggested Framework waleed@agu.edu.bh

2 Overview 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

3 Introduction GW vital and essential source for all sectors in GCC Accelerated development growth since the mid-1970s Substantial increase in water demands (agricultural policies and rapid municipal expansion) Met mainly by GW 40 P o p u la tio n, m illio n GW dependency ratio averages 75% (>90% in KSA and Oman) GCC Population, Millions B il l io n C u b ic M e t e r Y ear GCC Water Demands, Bcm Y ear 2000

4 Cont., Introduction 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

5 Groundwater Resources & Utilization 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 250 R a in f a ll, m m Year

6 Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz Per Capita Available Water Share in GCC, Scarcity of natural resources is aggravated by high population growth (>3%) 3 Renewable shallow alluvial aquifers (recharge 3.5 Bcm/y) Deep non-renewable fossil (estimated reserves 2,175 Bcm?) Per capita freshwater continue to decrease Year P o p u la t io n, m illio n The GCC have an extremely poor endowment of natural water resources Available groundwater Resources P e r C a p ita m

7 Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz GCC Water Resources 19.5% 2.7% 9.5% 4.5% 1.7% 43.9% 46.6% 76.0% Bahrain 7.2% 1.7% 95.7% Oman Kuwait 91.0% 4.4% 18.5% 18.7% 0.8% 25.0% 3.0% All GCC Countries Groundwater 56.5% Qatar 94.7% Saudi Arabia 78.3% UAE Desalinated Water Reused Water

8 Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz GCC Sectoral Water Use 7.2% 4.6% 38.1% 2.1% 46.9% 0.5% Bahrain 19.4% 1.2% 51.0%92.3% 57.3% Kuwait Oman 11.3% 3.9% 13.7% 85.1% 27.1% 3.3% All GCC Countries 0.9% Agricultural 76.8% Qatar 87.8% Saudi Arabia 69.6% UAE Municipal Industrial

9 Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz Groundwater Resources & Use Desalinated Treated Water Wastewater 7.2% 1.7% Main Pressures Agricultural Policies Agricultural Population & Urbanization Growing! Municipal Industrial Groundwater 91% 85.1% 13.7% 1.2%

10 Cont., GW Resources & Utiliz Percent Growth in Water Demands % Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE GCC Average Source: Al-Alawi and Abdulrazzak, 1994; WB, 2005

11 Key Challenges for GW Management Supply-Driven Groundwater Integrated Groundwater Resources Development Leading to a Vicious Cycle THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE TO MOVE FROM THE CURRENT CYCLE TO THE OTHER CYCLE! Management Leading to a Virtuous Cycle x x x x x x x (Source: GWMATE, 2003)

12 Groundwater exploitation Bahrain, A b s t ra c t io n, M m 3 Stages of Groundwater Resource Development in a Major Aquifer and their Corresponding Management Needs most aquifers in GCC Year (Source: GWMATE, 2003)

13 GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OF CORRESPONDING TOOL OR INSTRUMENT (according to hydraulic stress stage), Source: GWMATE, 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 TECHNICAL TOOLS 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 coopted 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) 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 limited allocation competition between users priorities defined for extractive equitable allocation of extractive uses MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Prevention of Side Effects

14 Levels of Groundwater Management Tools, Instruments and Interventions Necessary (Bahrain as a typical Case of the GCC) 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 We Need to be here Aquifer Monitoring INSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTS Water Rights Regulatory Provisions Water Legislation Stakeholder Participation Awareness and Education Economic Instruments Areas of Major Management Deficiencies MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Prevention of Side Effects Resources Allocation Pollution Control (Source GWMATE, 2003)

15 Groundwater Management Strategies Demand Management Agricultural Sector Increase in Areas under Irrigation in GCC, KSA (LS) UAE (RS) Oman (RS) Kuwait (RS) Bahrain (RS) 400 Qatar (RS) ha ha Years FAOSTAT, 2004

16 Cont., GW Management Strategies Example: Wadi Al-Sarhan, KSA

17 Cont., GW Management Strategies Irrigation Water Share of Total Groundwater Abstraction in the GCC, % 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE Total WB, 2005

18 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)

19 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 Development of Desalination Capacity in the GCC Countries, desalination capacity 3 GCC remain an importer for the technology 2 Estimated total cost of desalination in the GCC over 21 billion US$ 1 Negative environmental impacts (air and marine) B illio n c u b ic m e t e r s Year

20 Cont., GW Management Strategies 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 4,500 table rise in urban areas 4,000 3,500 Only 60% of treated wastewater 3,000 is used (12% of domestic supply) 2,500 Used mainly in landscaping and 2,000 ornamentation 1,500 Ambitious GCC plans for reuse 1, an important component in the 0 GCC water budget in the future treated 1 2 reused TSE use in agriculture million cubic meters per year 3

21 Cont., GW Management Strategies Aquifer Recharge Enhancement Dams Construction (capturing runoff and groundwater artificial recharge) Dams Capacity in some GCC Countries Million cubic meter UAE Oman 0 Saudi Arabia

22 Cont., GW Management Strategies Aquifer Recharge Enhancement Water Harvesting Example of Water Harvesting structures & Artificial Recharge in Al-Daraiah Region, Saudi Arabia (Al-Turbak and Al-Dossari, 2005)

23 Cont., GW Management Strategies 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 Water levels in the observation bores of the injection scheme can be stored with 88% system efficiency Observation well No. m bgs Example of Injection of Tertiary Treated Wastewater to combat seawater intrusion in Salalah Plain Aquifer, Sultanate of Oman (Shamas, 2006)

24 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)

25 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)

26 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)

27 GW Simulation Modeling 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 Rus-UER Aquifer, Bahrain Use of Simulation Modeling in Studying Control of Seawater Intrusion in the Coastal Aquifer, UAE (ESCWA, 2001)

28 Decision Support Systems 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

29 Applying DPSIR Framework on GW Drivers Pressures Increasing Demands, sectoral utilization & competition, anthropogenic pollution, Partial control s se s on es sp ven Re cti fe Ef Demographic, Economic development, Technology, Agricultural Policies Responses Impact Agricultural demand management measures, supply management & augmentation (Artificial recharge, TSE reuse, Desal.), Awareness, Protection strategies, Technological fixes, etc. Economic, Social & Ecological losses State Groundwater over-draft, lowering water levels and salinization, pollution loads

30 modern agriculture modern irrigation TSE changing crop type Table 1 Graph 1 Example on the Use of Dynamic Modeling (STELLA) in the Management of Groundwater Resources in Bahrain Agricultural sector dynamics agricultural dm measures gw tariff Agricultural demand KSA underflow DM Aquifer storage food demand Outflow Inflow Industrial demand Municipal demand ArtRech domestic demand domestic dm measures others sectors demand Population dynamics Tariffs population UFW Desalination Awareness growth growth rate Domestic sector dynamics

31 Utilization of Non-Renewable GW Intensive mining of non-renewable GW, quality deterioration and depletion (mainly for agriculture) Fossil Groundwater Dependency in GCC Total dependency AGR dependency MUN dependency % Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar KSA UAE GCC Data Source: Bazza, 2005

32 Cont., Utilization of Non-Renewable GW 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 insitu 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 nonrenewable GW

33 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? (Source GWMATE, 2003)

34 GW Abstraction Rights, Monitoring & Tariffs 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

35 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 socioeconomically sustainable approach

36 Thank!You