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

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NON-RENEWABLE GROUNDWATER RESOURCESAdditional management actionsfor sustainable groundwater resourcesTo secure more effective water management and national planning, and a higher level of sustainabilityand continuity of development and progress of the country, in 2002 all water agenciesand authorities were placed under the Minister of Water (MW). The specific objectives of thenew Ministry as stated in the Royal Decree No 125 on 25/4/1422 (16 July 2001) are to:● supervise the management, monitoring and organization of the water sector and its facilities,● carry out all related studies needed to assess the country’s water supplies and storagevolumes,● prepare a comprehensive water plan defining policies for water resource development,protection and conservation,● prepare a national program to expand the drinking water and wastewater networks inall urban areas of the Kingdom,● suggest the required organizations needed for water resources protection,● study and propose new water tariffs for all users of water,● determine how to improve the performance of wastewater collection systems.● develop mechanisms, frameworks and implementation strategies for private sector involvementin water sector investments, operation and maintenance.In addition to those responsibilities of the MW listed above, measures are also needed to:● reduce the irrigation water consumption to increase the long-term productivity and qualityof the aquifers,● control leakage and minimize water losses from water supply networks,● augment groundwater resources from non-conventional resources such as desalination,wastewater reuse, and● implement artificial aquifer recharge.In September 2003, responsibility for the electricity sector was added to the mission of the MWand its name was changed to the Ministry of Water and Electricity. This decision was made toachieve better coordination between the water and power sectors as most of seawater desalinationplants produce both water and electricity. The Ministry has adopted an Integrated WaterResources Management tools to implement its short term and long-term water strategies, whichare presently under development. This approach is aimed at achieving the coordinated developmentand management of water, land and related resources in ways that will maximize theresultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainabilityof of valuable groundwater resources and vital ecosystems.Conclusions66Saudi Arabia is an arid country that has been relying, and to a great extent is expected to continueto rely, on non-renewable groundwater resources to support its comprehensive socioeconomic,agricultural and industrial developments. Understanding the characteristics of itsaquifers, the country has attempted, with varying levels of success, to manage the use of groundwaterresources by controlling aquifer development, well licensing and control of drilling, agriculturepolicy modification, and production of non-conventional water resources. To avoid
CHAPTER 5 ■ REGIONAL CASESadditional negative impacts on aquifers from excessive groundwater withdrawals, correctivedemand management measures are needed in addition to augmentation of water supplies byseawater desalination and the reuse of treated wastewater effluents. New institutions under thenewly established Ministry of Water and Electricity have been created to better manage theKingdom's water sector. Other arid countries can benefit from the experiences of Saudi Arabia ingroundwater management to support its socio-economic development.AcknowledgementThe author wishes to thank the Research Institute of King Fahd University of Petroleum andMinerals for the support to complete this research paper.ReferencesAL-HOSAYYEN, A. 2002. Water Challenge-Alternative and Non-Conventional Solutions. Proceedingsof the Symposium of Infrastructure Financing and Provision, Power, Water and Sewage,organized by High Commission for the Development of Riyadh, January 2002, Riyadh, SaudiArabia.BURDEN, D.J. 1982. Hydrogeological Conditions in the Middle East. Quarterly Journal of EngineeringGeology, 15: 71-81.MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER (MAW). 1984. Water Atlas of Saudi Arabia. Department ofWater Resources Development. MAW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.———. 1988. Climate Atlas of Saudi Arabia. Department of Water Resources Development.MAW, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.67
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