Non-renewable groundwater resources: a ... - unesdoc - Unesco

NON-RENEWABLE GROUNDWATER RESOURCESFigure 1Principal aquifers of Saudi Arabia showing relation with main irrigated agricultural areasGrowth in water demandsThe population of the Kingdom has increased from about 7.7 million in 1970 to about 21 millionin 2000, and is expected to reach about 40 million by 2020. The urban population, about 15 millionin 2000, is expected to reach about 32 million in 2020 or about 80% of the total populationof the country. The annual domestic and industrial water demands have grown from about 220MCM in 1970 to about 2030 MCM in 2000, and is expected to reach 6,450 MCM in 2020. Theannual irrigation water use has increased from about 6,108 MCM in 1970 to about 19,074 MCMin 2000. These growing water demands are mainly satisfied from desalination plants and fromthe non-renewable groundwater resources.Non-renewable groundwater resources supplied about 66% of the total national needs in2000. The total consumed volume of nonrenewable groundwater resources for agricultural,domestic and industrial purpose from 1980 until the end of 2000 was about 260,000 MCM orabout 11.5% of the total groundwater reserves in the top 300 meters below ground level. Undercurrent development policies, the total national demands are expected to be about 24 billioncubic meters by 2025. Half of the expected increases in demands will likely come from nonrenewablegroundwater.64