Integrated Groundwater Resources Management (IGWM)Resources Management (IGWM)

Groundwater Resources in ESCWA CountriesArabian Peninsula Sub-region

Arid to extremely arid climatic conditions irregular scantyArid to extremely arid climatic conditions, irregular scanty rainfall (<100 mm/yr), high evaporation rates (>3000 mm/yr), no reliable surface water supplyDepends entirely on Groundwater (91%), Desalination plants (7.2%), Treated wastewater (1.7%)

Mashriq + Egypt Sub-regionArid and semi-arid, 70% of the region receives <250 mmShared rivers originating outside the regionGroundwater use and reliance is on the rise, due to

Population growthIncreasing agricultural, industrial, municipal demandsShortage in surface water supplies and un-accessibilityS o ge su ce w e supp es d u ccess b yDegradation of surface water resources

Status of Groundwater Resources in ESCWA

Unplanned Utilization and MismanagementOver-drafting of groundwater resources

Continuous and sharp declines in groundwater levelsS li d i i d i i dSevere quality deterioration due to seawater invasion and deep connate water intrusion

Groundwater Quality Deterioration Due toGroundwater Quality Deterioration Due to Anthropogenic Activities

Agricultural Activities (irrigation return flows carryingAgricultural Activities (irrigation return flows carrying pollutants, e.g. pesticides, fertilizers, elevated TDS)Domestic Activities (e.g., septic tanks, municipal l dfill )landfills, etc.)Industrial Activities (e.g., leaking underground fuel storage tanks surface and subsurface disposal of oil fieldstorage tanks, surface and subsurface disposal of oil field brines, industrial landfills, etc.)

Impacts of Groundwater Deterioration

When evaluating the impact of groundwater

Impacts of Groundwater Deterioration

g p gdepletion and deterioration on society, two key issues are usually considered:

the level of reliance on groundwater the marginal cost (the cost of providing replacement supplies from another source)supplies from another source)

Furthermore, in ESCWA region groundwater has a scarcity valuea scarcity value

The opportunity cost for alternative or competing uses (e.g., agriculture vs. industrial or domestic) need to be incorporatedits functional value in maintaining the fragile ecosystemecosystem

Impacts of Groundwater DeteriorationDiminishing of groundwater supplies (increasing overall water shortage and scarcity)Damage the environment (biodiversity, desertification, water-dependent flora and fauna, etc..)Health Impacts and Risks

Spread of Waterborne diseases, especially diarrheal diseasesHigh DALY per year (Disability Adjusted Life Year, in years), a measure of the loss of healthy human life because of both premature mortality and disabilityy y

Social and Economic ImpactsHuman suffering and loss of life (priceless economically and socially)g (p y y)High health treatment expendituresLoss of tourism and foreign exchange earnings (e.g., Egypt, Jordan)Etc..

Over-exploitation of Groundwater Resources & Impacts on Society

Case StudyKingdom of Bahrain

Groundwater over-draft250

300

s

Aquifer Safe Yield

Wells Abstraction150

200

on c

ubic

met

ers

Natural SpringsDischarge

0

50

100

Mill

io

Dammam Aquifer Abstraction History1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Year Historical salinity (1965)

6-1.4-1.

2-1.0-0

.8-0.6-0 .4-0.

2-0.00.

20.4

0 .60.81 .01.2

1 .41.61 .82.0

Water Level, m (sea level)

360003800040000420004400046000480005000052000

-1.8-1.6

1400016000180002000022000240002600028000300003200034000

Potentiometric 2000400060008000100001200014000

Potentiometric Surface (2001)

Surface (1925)

Dammam Aquifer Salinity (2001)

Agricultural Lands loss

Natural Springs Dry-up and Loss

Al-Shaikh Al-Safahiyah Al-Raha

-195

0s19

40s-

90s

199

Source: Hind AlQusaibi, 1997

Environmental Degradation & Habitat Destruction

Loss of indigenous animal species (frogs, turtles, etc..)Destruction of migratory birds habitatLoss of BiodiversityKnown and hidden ecosystem services and functions are compromised (provisioning & regulating services)Non material losses of springs

Spiritual & Religious Recreation and eco-tourismAestheticI i i lInspirationalEducationalCultural heritageCultural heritage

Economical Costs

The marginal cost = cost of providing replacement supplies from another sourcesupp es o a ot e sou ce

Equal to the aquifer natural recharge rate (100 Mm3/y)Seawater desalination and/or treated wastewaterSeawater desalination and/or treated wastewater (depending on use)About 60 Million Bahraini Dinars annuallyAbout 60 Million Bahraini Dinars annually (Abdulghaffar, 2000)

Other costs that need to be calculatedOther costs that need to be calculatedLoss of agricultural landsL f t l i d th i t dLoss of natural springs and their monetary and non-monetary valuesLoss of biodiversity and its functionsLoss of biodiversity and its functionsEtc.

Integrated Water Resources ManagementIntegrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Framework

Ecological Sustainability

Enabling EnvironmentEnvironment

Policies

Legislation

Fora & mechanisms for participation

Assessment

Regulatory Inst

Organiz. Framework

Financing & Incentives

International ti

Regulatory Inst.

Demand Management

Economic Tools, …

Capacity Building

Management boundaries

Economic Efficiency Social Equity

cooperation, …

Enabling Environment and Institutional Rolesb g v o e d s u o o es

IWRM is contingent upon the instigation ofg p geffective legal frameworksound institutional directivessound institutional directives effective human resource development

With t i t li i i tit ti tWithout appropriate policies, institutions cannot function!without appropriate institutions, policies will not work!!without a set of policies and institutions, management instruments are irrelevant!!!

Key Challenges for GW Management

Supply-Driven Groundwater Integrated Groundwater Resources

y g g

Supply Driven Groundwater Development Leading to a

“Vicious Cycle”

Integrated Groundwater Resources Management Leading to a

“Virtuous Cycle”THERE IS MUCH TO BE THERE IS MUCH TO BE

DONEDONE

TO MOVE FROM THE TO MOVE FROM THE CURRENT CYCLE TO CURRENT CYCLE TO THE OTHER CYCLE!THE OTHER CYCLE!

(Source: GWMATE, 2003)

Stages of Groundwater Resource Development in a

Most of the aquifers in the

Arabian Peninsula

e.g., Groundwater exploitation, Bahrain, 1925-2002

250

300

m3Resource Development in a

Major Aquifer and their Corresponding Management Needs

Arabian Peninsula

0

50

100

150

200

Abs

trac

tion,

Mm

Needs 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000Year

Sustainable Level of resource development

actio

n )

Required Management

Tota

l Abs

tra

Rat

e (Q Management

InterventionsLevel 3A

T

(Source: GWMATE, 2003)

GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS

LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OF CORRESPONDING TOOL OR INSTRUMENT(according to hydraulic stress stage), Source: GWMATE, 2003

0 1 2 3

TECHNICAL TOOLSResource Assessment basic knowledge of aquifer conceptual model based on field

datanumerical models operational with simulation of different abstraction.

models linked to decision-support and used for planning and management

Quality Evaluation no quality constraints quality variability is issue in water quality processes understood quality integrated in allocation plansQuality 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

INSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTSWater 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 co-opted 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

only symbolic charges for water abstraction

recognition of economic value (reduction and targeting of fuel

economic value recognized (adequate charging and increased possibility of g ( p

subsidized)( g gsubsidies)

g g p yreallocation)

MANAGEMENT ACTIONS

Prevention of Side Effects 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

Resources Allocation limited allocation constraints competition between users priorities defined for extractive use equitable allocation of extractive uses and in-situ values

Pollution Control few controls over land use and waste disposal

land surface zoning but no proactive controls

control over new point source pollution and/or siting of new wells in safe zones

control of all point and diffuse sources of pollution; mitigation of existing contamination

e.g., Levels of Groundwater Management Tools, Instruments and I t ti N B h i

GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT TOOLS &

LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OF CORRESPONDING TOOL OR INSTRUMENT

Interventions Necessary: Bahrain

TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS

0: BASELINE SITUATION

1: INCIPIENT STRESS

2: SIGNIFICANT STRESS

3: UNSTABLE DEVELOPMENT

TECHNICAL TOOLSResource AssessmentResource Assessment

Quality Evaluation

Aquifer Monitoring

INSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTSINSTITUTIONAL INSTRUMENTSWater Rights

Regulatory Provisions

W t L i l tiWater Legislation

Stakeholder Participation

Awareness and Education

Economic Instruments

Major Deficiency

AreasEconomic Instruments

MANAGEMENT ACTIONSPrevention of Side Effects

R All tiResources Allocation

Pollution Control

(Source GWMATE, 2003)

Groundwater Management Strategies

Approaches Needed to Stabilize Heavily-Stressed AquifersApproaches Needed to Stabilize Heavily Stressed Aquifers

Groundwater Quality ProtectionA. Regional: Groundwater vulnerability AssessmentTo provide policy makers with a planning document indicatingTo provide policy makers with a planning document indicating groundwater regions most susceptible to contamination so that land management practices can be optimized to protect groundwater resources

Terminology Involvedgy

Example, Vulnerability AssessmentExample, Vulnerability Assessment

DRASTIC Methodology, GIS N441000 450000 459000 468000

2907000 2907000

Aquifer Media

Depth to Water

0 2

2898000 2898000

Soil Media

Aquifer Media

880000

288000

2889000 2889000

Topography (Slope)

2871000 2871000

28

00

Hydraulic Conductivity

Impact of Vadose Zonevulnerability.shp

Very low vulnerabilityLow vulnerabilityM d t l bilit

2862000 2862000

y yMederate vulnerabilityHigh vulnerabilityVery high vulnerability

441000 450000 459000 468000

2853000 2853000

1000000000 0 1000000000 2000000000 Meters

Groundwater Vulnerability MapGroundwater Vulnerability Dammam Aquifer, Bahrain

Cont., Example, Pollution Hazard AssessmentCont., Example, Pollution Hazard Assessment441000 450000 459000

2907000 2907000

441000 450000 459000

2907000 2907000

M i i l L dfill

Pollution Hazard Assessment

Gasoline Stations 2889000 2889000

2898000 2898000

2889000 2889000

2898000 2898000

Municipal Landfills

Industrial Activities441000 450000 459000

288000

0 2880000

vulnerability.shpVery low vulnerability

Veg_ut.shp N441000 450000 459000

2880000 2880000

Theme1.shp0 - 25 %25 - 50 %

N

Agricultural & Poultry

Septic TanksVery low vulnerabilityLow vulnerabilityMederate vulnerabilityHigh vulnerabilityVery high vulnerability

500000000 0 500000000 1000000000 Meters

vulnerability.shpVery low vulnerabilityLow vulnerabilityMederate vulnerabilityHigh vulnerabilityVery high vulnerability

25 50 %50 - 75 %75 - 100 %

500000000 0 500000000 1000000000 Meters

441000 450000 459000441000 450000 459000

2907000 2907000

Agricultural & Poultry

+

2889000 2889000

2898000 2898000

9000

2889

2898000 2898000

GW Vulnerability Map

441000 450000 459000

2880000 2880000

2 0

Stations shp N441000 450000 459000

2880000 2880000

2889

9000

GW Pollution Hazardvulnerability.shp

Very low vulnerabilityLow vulnerabilityMederate vulnerabilityHigh vulnerabilityVery high vulnerability

Stations.shp

600000 0 600000 Kilometers

vulnerability.shpVery low vulnerabilityLow vulnerabilityMederate vulnerabilityHigh vulnerabilityVery high vulnerability

Indst_ut.shp

500000000 0 500000000 1000000000 Meters

N

Groundwater Quality ProtectionB. Local: Wellhead protection areaDefine surface and subsurface zones from which the well receivesDefine surface and subsurface zones from which the well receives water and which therefore must be protected from potential contamination, and therefore restrict activities that would generate such contamination (e.g., septic tanks, grazing, etc..)

M th d Ti f T l (TOT) i th ti l d lMethod: Time of Travel (TOT), using mathematical models

Idealized scheme of surface sanitary zones and groundwater flowand groundwater flow

perimeter for the protection of a water

ll i fi dwell in an unconfined aquifer

Example: Wadi AlExample: Wadi Al--Jizzi, Sultanate of OmanJizzi, Sultanate of Oman

Management of Non-Renewable “fossil”G d RGroundwater Resources

The Problem of defining the term “sustainability” for non-The Problem of defining the term sustainability for non-renewable groundwater resourcesTwo situations: unplanned utilization & planned schemes (seeTwo situations: unplanned utilization & planned schemes (see next slide)Planned schemes include

orderly utilization, with expected benefits and predicted impacts over a specified time-frameappropriate ‘exit strategies’ identified, identified, developed and implemented by the time that the aquifer is seriously d l ddepletedbalanced socioeconomic choices on the use of aquifer storage reser es and on the transition to a s bseq ent lessstorage reserves and on the transition to a subsequent less water-dependent economy

Targets of nonTargets of non--renewable groundwater resourcesrenewable groundwater resources

Cont., GCC Water Resources & Use

Targets of nonTargets of non--renewable groundwater resources renewable groundwater resources management in rationalization scenario following management in rationalization scenario following

indiscriminate and excessive exploitationindiscriminate and excessive exploitationpp

we are here, but which way to go next?y g

Management ToolsA. Monitoring, a pre-requisite for management

Monitoring of groundwater abstraction and uses and aquiferMonitoring of groundwater abstraction and uses, and aquifer response (levels and quality) is the foundation on which groundwater management is basedIt provides information that permits rational management decisions on the resource and sustainability issues:

Understanding flow system and baseline water quality beforeUnderstanding flow system and baseline water quality before development changesIdentifying actual and emerging problems of local overdraft (quantity) or water pollution (quality); Providing independent information on the rate of use of the resource especially where the regulatory system is deficient;resource, especially where the regulatory system is deficient; Evaluating the effectiveness of management actions, including remedial measures to halt or reverse adverse trends in water quality or quantity

Despite the obvious benefits of monitoring programs it isDespite the obvious benefits of monitoring programs, it is common to find that monitoring programs are the first functions to be cut back when resources are scarce!There are also cases where programs originally devised for preliminary survey purposes have been continued blindly long

t th if t t d i t thpast the aquifer resource assessment stage and into the development phase without any revision to reflect emerging conditions and new groundwater prioritiesconditions and new groundwater prioritiesTwo vital monitoring axioms

Any program needs to be judged in terms of the information it will generate (data useful and tailored to management requirements)Regular reassessment of aims is the best protection forRegular reassessment of aims is the best protection for monitoring programs, which are often regarded as an optional luxury that is costly, resource-consuming, andoptional luxury that is costly, resource consuming, and potentially sensitive in the political arena

Example, Spatial Optimization of Groundwater Salinity Example, Spatial Optimization of Groundwater Salinity Monitoring Network using GeostatisticsMonitoring Network using Geostatistics

0. 2 2

0. 2 4

0. 2 6

0. 2 8

0. 3

0. 3 2

0. 3 4

0. 3 6

0. 3 8

w E

rror

g gg g

0. 0 8

0. 1

0. 1 2

0. 1 4

0. 1 6

0. 1 8

0. 2

0 75

0 . 8

Raw

or

0 2

0 . 25

0 . 3

0 . 35

0 . 4

0 . 45

0 . 5

0 . 55

0 . 6

0 . 65

0 . 7

0 . 75

ight

ed E

rro

1

0 . 05

0 . 1

0 . 15

0 . 2

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

Wei

g

0.6

0.8

1

Val

ue

Raw Error Weighted Error

0.2

0.4

Err

or V

Error Analysis (the worth of more data)

0Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

Optimized Monitoring NetworkBahrain

Management ToolsB. Groundwater Simulation Modeling, an essential tool

for managementfor managementSimulation models are an efficient management and planning tool for the development of complex aquifer systemsp p q yIf properly constructed, they are useful to

Estimate the effects of future development/management h h dschemes on the groundwater system

Aid in understanding of the overall behavior of a given aquifer systemaquifer system

The computed result of an aquifer simulation is the potentiometric surface distribution of the aquifer and the salinity p q ydistribution in the aquifer or the concentration of a particular contaminant species, which are the critical factor in water

d l iresources management and planning