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Sustainable Groundwater Resources Management in Arid Regions: Abu Dhabi Case Study
Mohamed A. Dawoud1 and Osama M. Sallam2
1. Manager, Water Resources Department, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 45553, UAE Email: [email protected]
2. Senior Hydrogeologist, Water Resources Department, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 45553, UAE Email: [email protected]
Abstract In arid environments, groundwater is an important and precious resource for agricultural, municipal and rural supplies, eco-environment maintenance, and social and economic development especially where no surface water is available. Sustainable and integrated management of groundwater resources along with other available resources is very important tool for water security. Understanding of the interactions between groundwater and human activities are crucial for sustainable water resources development and planning on regional and local scales. Abu Dhabi Emirate experiences a severe water shortage problem that threatens the sustainable development and hinders the national plans for human, industrial and agricultural development. The annual groundwater abstraction from the shallow aquifers is about 2200 million m3 which is about 63.6% of the total Emirate water production whilst the aquifer annual natural recharge ranges from 50 to 140 million m3. Most of this water is used for agriculture and forestry sectors. Historically groundwater was used for domestic use but recently all groundwater domestic fields were shut off. This paper presents and assesses the available groundwater resources the various alternative scenarios for sustainable and integrated management of these resources. A set of efficient solutions (alternatives), concepts are tested and evaluated to rank the alternatives and to assist decision makers in selecting a suitable policy among them, each of which is optimum with regard to its goal and the corresponding consequences. Keywords: Wells, wastewater, Desalination, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Agriculture, Aquifer Recharge.
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1- Introduction
In arid environments, groundwater is an important and precious resource for agricultural, municipal and rural supplies, eco-environment maintenance, and social and economic development especially where no surface water is available. Sustainable and integrated management of groundwater resources along with other available resources is very important tool for water security. Understanding of the interactions between groundwater and human activities are crucial for sustainable water resources development and planning on regional and local scales. Abu Dhabi Emirate has an area of 67,340 km2, equivalent to 80% of the country’s total land mass is a sabkha coastal area characterized by arid conditions above the level of high tide and by the absence of vegetation; the ground water is very saline. A low recharge rate of groundwater is observed with less than 4% of total annual water used and there are no reliable perennial surface water resources (EAD 2005). Therefore, the required drinking water is obtained primarily by desalination of seawater. Figure 1 Shows Abu Dhabi Emirate location in United Arab Emirates and Arabian Gulf area
GULF OF OMAN
ARABIAN GULF
SULTANATE OF OMAN
IRAN
SAUDI ARABIA
QATAR
BAHRAIN
ABU DHABI EMIRATE
Doha
Muscat
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)
Figure 1. Location of Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates.
Abu Dhabi Emirate occurs in the subtropical arid climatic zone and is exposed to oceanic effects of the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, Rainfall is erratic and unreliable. Orographic effects are
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clearly seen on the rainfall distribution. The Al Hajar mountains in neighboring Oman, which reach elevations in excess of 2000 m. a.m.s.l, generate high rainfall incidents, especially in the winter months, which provide for the runoff to wadis which cross over the border into Abu Dhabi Emirate. Within Abu Dhabi, this high elevation rain occurs only at Jebel Hafit, which, at an elevation of 1163 m.a.m.s.l, is the highest point in Abu Dhabi Emirate and the only high mountain massif within the Emirate, The mean annual rainfall at Al Ain 1971-1994 is 96.4mm with a maximum of 303mm/yr. The mean annual precipitation for Abu Dhabi Island is 87mm with a maximum of 227mm/yr. (EAD, 2005) 2- Objectives and Methodology
The main objective of this paper is, evaluating and ranking a set of efficient solutions, alternative scenarios and concepts for sustainable and integrated management of water resources in Abu Dhabi Emirate consequently assist the decision makers in selecting a suitable policy among them, each of which is optimum with regard to its goal and the corresponding consequences. To fulfill the main objective of this paper, a number of activities were achieved consequently as :
Review the groundwater resources and water resources in Abu Dhabi Emirate Describe the current water resources and water demands in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Analysis the Water production , water uses and water consumptions for each source
and sector Study the available Water resources and Water demands for each sector. Test, evaluate and rank a set of efficient solutions, alternative scenarios and concepts
for sustainable and integrated management of water resources in Abu Dhabi
3- Abu Dhabi Emirate Water resources.
Abu Dhabi Emirate, has an arid climate with less than 100 mm/yr average rainfall, a very high evaporation rate (2-3 m/yr), a low groundwater recharge rate (<4% of total annual water used) and no reliable, perennial surface water resources. Furthermore, it is a downstream water user and shares trans-boundary water resources along common borders with Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, 350 km and 280 km in length respectively. The annual groundwater abstraction from the shallow aquifers is about 2200 million m3, the aquifer annual natural recharge ranges from 50 to 140 million m3. Most of this water is used for agriculture and forestry sectors. Historically, all the Emirate’s water requirements were met solely from groundwater obtained from shallow hand dug wells and the traditional Falaj system, comprising man–made channels used to collect groundwater, spring water and surface water and transport it, by gravity,
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to a demand area. Since the entire Emirate’s Aflaj are now dry, a system of borehole support has been developed over the last 10-15 years.(EAD, 2006) 3-1 Groundwater Systems These systems are controlled by recharge processes, the geology of the host rocks, and the residence time of groundwater and discharge processes. The resultant groundwater quality is largely influenced by groundwater residence time and type of recharge process, and in more recent times, by anthropogenic activity and its availability by aquifer type and surrounding development. Table 1 gives the main characteristics of the three flow types: local, intermediate and regional. Overall groundwater movement is generally from East to West for all three flow types, although, North of the Liwa crescent, a groundwater high allows flows to the south and across the border to Saudi Arabia. Flow times from recharge zones in the East to the sabkha discharge zones along the Gulf coastline can take up to 15,000 years. This slow groundwater movement allows for considerable dissolution of salts in the groundwater and the longer the residence time, the higher the salt content; hyper-saline waters in excess of 200,000 mg/l are found along the Abu Dhabi coastline.
Table 1: Groundwater flow systems within Abu Dhabi Emirate System Type
Main Physical and Development Characteristics
Main Hydrochemical Characteristics
Loca
l
Occurs as springs, shallow hand dug wells, aflaj and shallow boreholes within surficial gravel and alluvium aquifers. Short groundwater residence time in active recharge areas, rapid hydrological cycle. Limited to Eastern region, close to Oman boarder
Low salinity & temperature and close to ambient air temperature. Groundwater of Bicarbonate (HCO3) type, indicative of active recharge e.g. Al Jaww plain, Gashaba, Shuwaib areas
Inte
rmed
iate
Inland sabkhas are main discharge areas. Groundwater contained in relatively thin sand aquifers, low groundwater velocities with moderate residence times
Generally brackish to saline and of Sulphate (SO4) type. Hypersaline at discharge areas i.e. Sabkha. No or little active recharge, most of Western region has this system, although Ain bu Sukhanah spring at Ayn Al Fayda also belongs to this system
Reg
iona
l
This slow moving, long residence groundwater system moves towards the North West and the Gulf and also to the South West into Saudi Arabia where discharge areas are low lying sabkhas
Discharge areas have waters of high temperature and are highly mineralized. Sabkhas are hyper-saline. Residence times of up to 15,000 years produce Chloride water types
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Sabkhas are uneconomic aquifers and contain groundwater of hyper-salinity and brine quality in some places. Their hydrogeology and hydrochemistry is described in detail by Wood and Sanford (2002) and their potential for brine resources development by Czarnecki et al. (2000). The former concluded that rainfall is the dominant source of water whilst ascending terrestrial brine is the dominant source of contained solutes for the coastal sabkhas which comprise a 300 km long by 15 km (range 2-20km) wide strip. Much of the Emirate is covered with quaternary age (Holocene) aeolian sand deposits that comprise many different types of dunes, some of which occur as massive complexes. Dunes range in size from mega barchans found in the dune field directly south of the Liwa crescent where the average relative dune heights are 103m, to small barchans south east of Baynunah which have an average relative height of less than 10m (UAE University, 1993). The dunes are a common north – eastern extension of the well known sand sea “Ar Rub Al Khali” which lies mainly within Saudi Arabia. The dune sands aquifer, which is dominant in the Western Region, comprises mostly medium to very fine grained aeolian sands, sub-rounded to well rounded, which become progressively argillaceous with increasing depth. 3-1-1 Groundwater aquifers Around 80% of the territory comprises Quaternary sand and sand with gravel aquifers. The Eastern Region main aquifers are Quaternary sands and gravels (underlain by the very productive Upper Fars Formation which continues eastwards into neighboring Oman), the Lower Fars Formation in the south eastern, Umm Az Zamoul area, limestone bedrock units (Dammam and Simsima) and discontinuous carbonates within the tectonically effected hydrogeology north of Al Ain. The Western Region largely comprises the Quaternary sand aquifer directly underlain by the Lower Fars Formation as a basal unit, but unlike its occurrence in the Eastern Region, the Fars here represents a regional aquiclude. (GTZ et al,2005) Also present are thin coastal sabkha aquifers and the Baynunah Formation, comprising continental Upper Miocene Sandstones and conglomerates with gypsiferous cap rocks that form numerous, low lying mesas in the area. Both Formations are poor aquifers and are largely undeveloped. They are both underlain by the regional Lower Fars basal unit aquiclude. Figure 2 shows the saturated thickness of the Upper aquifer in Abu Dhabi Emirate.
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Figure 2: Saturated Thickness of the Upper Aquifer. 3-1-2 Groundwater Quality The salinity of groundwater in the upper alluvial aquifer system ranges from less than 1000 p.p.m. to more than 50,000 p.p.m. as shown in Figure 3 and Table 2 shows the water reserved in the two aquifer system and its quality in Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Arabian Gulf
Sultanateof Oman
Northern Emirates
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Kilometers0 20 40 60 80 100
Total Dissoved Solids (mg/l TDS)
200
500
1000
1500
4000
7000
10000
25000
50000
100000
125000
Figure 3: Groundwater Salinity of the Upper Aquifer.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Arabian Gulf
Sultanateof Oman
Northern Emirates
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Kilometers
0 20 40 60 80 100
Thickness of Upper Aquifer
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Absent
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Table 2: Groundwater Resources Reserve (Km3) Aquifer Fresh Brackish Saline Total Shallow Aquifer 17.2 79.05 181.6 277.85 Aquitard 0 35.6 326.3 361.9 TOTAL (KM3) 17.2 114.65 507.9 639.75 % of Total Groundwater 2.60% 18.10% 79.60% 100%
Note : Fresh 0-1500 mg/l TDS, Brackish 1501-10000 mg/l, Saline 10001 - 100,000 mg/l Various classifications of groundwater type have been used internationally and different classifications are also found associated with different projects and government agencies within Abu Dhabi Emirate. Table 3 shows a summary of the main classifications used in the Emirate, all generally use TDS for classification of groundwater type. The classifications of groundwater quality shown in Table 3 are all more detailed than the World Health Organization simplistic classification for drinking water which has fresh defined up to 1600 mg/l and brackish above this value. In Abu Dhabi Emirate, the term “Fresh” is generally a local standard for potable water. Table 3: Groundwater Classification Schemes used in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Source TDS Range (mg/l) Classification (EAD, 2005) 0-1500
1500-8000 8000-15000 15000-35000 >35000
Fresh Low Brackish High Brackish Saline Hypersaline
GTZ et al (2005) – German Standards
0-1500 1500-4000 4000-7000 7000-10000 10000-25000 25000-50000 50000-100000 >100000
Fresh Slightly Brackish Medium Brackish Strongly Brackish Slightly saline Medium Saline Strongly Saline Brine
USGS (USGS/NDC,1996) 0-1500 1500-15000 >15000
Fresh Brackish Saline
Forestry Dept Abu Dhabi Municipality and Agriculture
0-1500 1500-10000 10000-20000 >20000
Fresh Brackish Saline Very Saline
Abu Dhabi Municipality ad Agriculture -Agriculture Extension Service
0-4000µS/cm 4000-8000µS/cm 8000-12000µS/cm >12000µS/cm
Class I Fresh Class II low brackish Class III high brackish Class IV saline
Al Ain Municipality & Agriculture -Agriculture Extension Service (2001)
0-1000 1000-2000 2000-4000 4000-6000 6000-8000 >8000
Class 1 very Fresh Class 2 Fresh Class 3 low brackish Class4.medium brackish Class 5 high brackish Class 6 saline
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3-1-3 Groundwater storage The GWRP (USGS/NDC, 1996) and GWAP (GTZ et al, 2005) have used different methods to calculate the groundwater in storage in the Emirate, but both have ultimately calculated average saturated aquifer thickness and specific yield to estimate stored volumes. The volume of fresh groundwater calculated differs by only 8%. It is not possible to compare the saline and brackish groundwater calculations, since different thresholds have been used to define this water quality. The GWRP calculated a total groundwater reserve of 253 Km³ (7% fresh and 93% brackish) and the GWAP total estimate of 640 Km³ (79.4% saline) is much larger since groundwater of salinity of up to 100,000 mg/l TDS was included, whereas the GWRP included groundwater with less than 15,000 mg/l TDS. The most striking feature of both estimates is that the amount of fresh groundwater remaining in storage is very small, ranging from 2.6% to 7% of the total. According to the GWAP assessment more than three-quarters (12.5 km³) of the fresh water in storage occurs in the Liwa lens and only about 4 Km³ in the Eastern region. According to the GWRP assessment, at current groundwater abstraction rates, it is projected that the fresh and brackish groundwater resources will be depleted in 50 years. Figure 4 shows the Groundwater reserve aquifer systems and its quality.
Figure 4: Groundwater reserve aquifer systems.
3-2 Surface water In general, the rainfall on the emirate of Abu Dhabi is little, and the Central Western Region does not have the facilities to harvest rainfall, while the Shuwaib project in the eastern region, which consists of the dam with height 11 m , length 300 meters and storage about 5 million cubic meters , the approach channel with length 3600 m , width 150 meters and storage capacity about 5,5 million cubic meters in addition to five storage reservoirs with capacity 21 million cubic
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meters, table 4 shows the components of the project harvest water rain in Shuwaib in Abu Dhabi emirate, with total storage capacity about 31.5 million cubic meters.
Table 4: dam and reservoirs projects 2009
Name of the Project Facility: Capacity, Mm3
Shwaib Dam Length 3000 m, height 11m 5 Approach Channel Length 3600 m, width 150 m 5.5 Shwaib Reservoirs Seven reservoirs 21 Total Shwaib Dam and Reservoirs project 31.5
3-3 Desalinated Water Production The desalination of sea water is the source of non-conventional water in the Abu Dhabi Emirate, the total amount of desalinated water in 2009, about 684 million cubic meters per year and most of the desalination plants exist in the Western Region and Fujairah, table 5 gives the total production of desalinated water in Abu Dhabi emirate b y the year 2009. Table 5: the total production of desalinated water in Abu Dhabi emirate b y the year 2009 Region Production, Mm3/yr
Eastern Region 0.32
Central and Western Region 868.2
Water Transfer : Qidfa Fujairah 130.00
Total production of desalinated 998.52 3-4. Treated Wastewater Production Wastewater treatment of the important sources of water in Abu Dhabi have reached the amount of treated water at about 244.73 million cubic meters per year, of which 48.215 in the Eastern Province and 196.52 million cubic meters per year Table 6 gives the total treated wastewater
production which mainly used for the irrigation of parks and forests. Table 6: Total Treated Wastewater Production Region Mm3/yr
Eastern Region 48.215
Central & Western Region5 196.52 Total Treated Wastewater Production 244.73
The conventional water resources of Abu Dhabi Emirate are estimated on an annual basis to be 63.62% groundwater and 7.16 % treated wastewater. The remaining 29.22% are provided by desalination plants. It is worth noting that the treated wastewater is totally consumed by the
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agricultural sector, Table 7 shows the total water production in Abu Dhabi Emirate, It is estimated that about 2.1743 billion cubic meters/year of groundwater is currently abstracted and is utilized by the Agriculture (76%), Forestry (23%) and Amenity/Domestic/Industrial sectors (1%). (EAD, 2009)
Table 7: Total water production in in Abu Dhabi Emirate Source Volume MCMY % Groundwater 2174.23 63.62 Desalination 998.52 29.22 Treated Wastewater 244.73 7.16 Total 3417.48
4- Water Uses Analysis in Abu Dhabi 4.1 Domestic Sector Water demand in this sector includes domestic and bulk categories. Domestic water demand includes mainly residential, commercial establishments, hospitals, hotels, offices, and shops. Bulk water demand includes agriculture, landscaping, large industrial usage, palaces, airports, and other non-domestic bulk diversions. The significant increase in customer demand for water occurred mainly in government sponsored housing development schemes and agricultural activities; particularly in the farming and forestry sectors. In 2009, 8.44% (288.57Million m³) of all water consumed in Abu Dhabi Emirate was in the domestic sector; 100% from desalination, 0% from groundwater wellfields. Table 8 shows the source and the quantities of water consumption in Domestic sector in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Table 8: water consumption in Domestic sector in Abu Dhabi Emirate Region Water Type Consumption, Mm3/yr
Eastern Region
Municipal from Wells 0
Municipal Desalinated 69.97
Western region
Municipal from Wells 0
Municipal Desalinated 39.70
Abu Dhabi Municipal Desalinated 178.90 Total Domestic Consumption (incl. 10% for Industry) 288.57
4.2 Agricultural Sector This sector consumes 50.22% (1716.23 Million m³/yr) of all of Abu Dhabi Emirates water demands. By the end of 2006, there were about 25,000 citizen’s farms, occupying around
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75,500 ha and a small number of large, state fodder (government) farms occupying about 17,000 ha (Dawoud, 2006). Table 9 gives agricultural water consumption in Abu Dhabi.Citizen’s farms are typically 2-3ha in size and each has two drilled wells at opposite corners of the plot. Table 9: agricultural water consumption in Abu Dhabi Region Consumption, Mm3/yr
Eastern Region 959.5
Western Region 756.73
Total Agricultural Consumption 1716.23
4.3 Forestry Sector This sector consumes 10.16% (347.35 Million m³/yr) of all of Abu Dhabi Emirates water demands. By the end of 2009, there were around 250 separate forestry plantations, under the management of the Al-Ain Forestry Department and the Abu Dhabi Municipality Forestry section. All forestry is irrigated by groundwater; recently, there is a development to supply limited desalinated water to some projects in the western region. This sector is faced with operational challenges related to poor water quality, lack of sufficient quantity of irrigated water and also poor quality soils. There was no expansion in forestry sector since 2003. Table 10 shows the forestry water consumption in Eastern and Western regions. Table 10: forestry water consumption Region Consumption, Mm3/yr
Eastern Region 119.75
Western Region 227.60 Total Forestry Consumption 347.35
4.4 Amenity Plantation Sector Amenity irrigation for parks, gardens and recreational areas e.g. golf courses, football pitches etc. consumes 11.59% (396.10 Million m³/yr) of all of Abu Dhabi Emirates water demands by the end of 2009.This sector relies mostly on treated effluent as a source, but wells are also utilized, especially in Al Ain City, table 11 shows the amenity and recreation water consumption in Eastern and Western regions. Table 11: amenity and recreation water consumption Region Consumption, Mm3/yr Eastern Region 159.4 Western Region 236.7 Total Amenity Consumption 396.1
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4.5 Industrial / Commercial Sector Detailed information on the source and use of water for this sector is not readily available and is poorly documented. The sector is currently estimated to use only 6.20% (212.00Million m³/yr) of the total water consumed in the Emirate by the end of 2009; Table 12 shows the industrial and commercial water consumption in Eastern and Western regions. Table 12: industrial and commercial water consumption Region Consumption, Mm3/yr
Eastern Region 34.8
Cooling, processing etc 89.6
Western Region 87.6
Total Industrial & Commercial (incl. in ADWEC bulk consumption) 212 5- Abu Dhabi water Balance By comparing the amount of water produced from different sources from groundwater, desalination and wastewater treatment, estimated quantities of 3.41745 billion cubic meters a year, table 13 shows, the quantities of water used for each sector by the end of year 2009, a difference estimated 457.2 million cubic meters per year by 13.38% of the total output Table 13: total consumption in Abu Dhabi from 2002 to 2009 Consumption
2002 2003 2005 2009 (Mm3) % (Mm3) % (Mm3) % (Mm3) %
Domestic 440.61 13.68 522.00 15.44 718.59 23.01 288.57 8.44 Agriculture 1963.90 60.97 1949.36 57.64 1741.39 55.75 1716.23 50.22 Forestry 512.00 15.89 607.30 17.96 362.38 11.60 347.35 10.16 Amenity 255.98 7.95 245.04 7.25 233.20 7.47 396.10 11.59 Industry 48.80 1.51 58.00 1.72 67.74 2.17 212.00 6.20 Out of system
457.20 13.38
TOTAL 3221.29 100.00 3381.70 100.00 3123.30 100.00 3417.45 1.00 used water 3221.29 3381.70 3123.30 2960.25 86.62
6- Sustainable Groundwater Management Factors Sustainable management of groundwater in Abu Dhabi, governed by a number of factors, such as:
Groundwater is mostly brackish and nonrenewable. Over-pumping practices have resulted in a severe decline in groundwater levels and
quality. The growing salinity in the ground water has impacted the increased salinity of agricultural
land. Water availability and demand are both subject to seasonal fluctuations, particularly during
the hot and humid summer months.
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In the Abu Dhabi Emirate there is a high demand for freshwater used for irrigation of farmland, forests and landscaping; industrial; amenities and domestic use.
The need for rational water management is critical. Forecasting water demand is currently being used as the basis for the production
expansion planning in order to meet the water demand for the emirate. Interruptions in the supply can be caused by emergencies and the minimum 1-year lead
time needed for new desalination plant construction. At present, all water used to irrigate agricultural products is groundwater, while treated
wastewater is used for landscaping purposes. Future irrigation development using groundwater is very limited. Attempts are being made to alleviate the problem of water scarcity by constructing
desalination plants and dams, the latter mainly for the recharge of groundwater. Local food production currently satisfies about one-fourth of UAE's food demand. The emirates are now self-sufficient in some winter vegetables and, in fact, a surplus is
produced at certain times of the year. Overall, the government will continue to encourage agriculture, but is also aware that complete self-sufficiency in food is impossible.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR); a relatively new concept for this region. The provision of desalinated water supply has been well planned, but extremely costly,
however supply has always kept abreast of demands, and excess capacity at present provides a potential resource for artificial recharge of aquifers utilizing
The balance of domestic demand in the Eastern Region and also the full requirements for the Western Region, are now met by desalinated water.
7- Sustainable Groundwater Management Polices 7.1 Water use: policy, planning and regulation
Reduction in quantity and quality of groundwater through over-abstraction, resulting in salinization of land, reduction in crop yields and abandonment of farms.
Lack of farm management leading to over- irrigation and drainage problems Unplanned development in the farming & forestry sectors Poor performance of the Forestry Sector due to insufficient water and poor water quality Little or no effort to manage the demands for water in agriculture sector Lack of recognition of the true economic cost of water when assigning its use Uncontrolled and un-regulated well drilling, leading to dry wells and wasted resources
7.2 Protection, conservation and monitoring of groundwater resources
Lack of a coordinated Emirate-wide water resources monitoring network and programme Groundwater pollution due to fertilizer use
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Lack of groundwater protection policies, e.g. no protection zones for municipal wellfields that still produce water of drinking quality, for example
lack of inventories on sources and demands Lack of qualified, technical, on-site supervision for drilling water wells Poor monitoring and data collection during drilling Insufficient water resources monitoring General waste of water and leakages Poor practices of water data and information management Non-availability or poor access to water resources information and data, and lack of a
central, Emirate-wide database to hold and analyses water resources data and information No well inventory, poor data collection when drilling wells
7.3 Coordination of groundwater exploration and assessment
Need for expansion of groundwater exploration programmes, especially for deeper aquifer potential
Lack of coordination and collaboration between existing groundwater exploration and assessment programmes
7.4 Local, regional and International cooperation and collaboration
Little or no technical cooperation with neighboring Emirates and countries, especially on developments on or near to the international boundaries
7.5 Strategic emergency water resources No developed strategic reserve of potable quality water in case of emergency (current
reserve for less than 2 days)
8- Recommendations Groundwater use in the Emirate continues to increase. Irrigation accounts for most groundwater use. The water table has dropped largely within the last 10 years because of extensive pumping of groundwater for irrigation the expanded agriculture and forestry sectors. Water table decline is significant on many local areas in addition to the deterioration of groundwater quality. The following are highly recommended:
1. Groundwater use regulations and laws are highly recommended to control the unplanned new groundwater wells drilling and use.
2. Developing a groundwater resources plan is essential considering the needs of individual users as well as the needs of the community and the environment. Cooperative efforts
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among interested agencies and institution are very important to control the unplanned use in groundwater resources.
3. Monitoring, an essential part of management: The goal of integrated monitoring of groundwater resources, and other components of the natural resources system as appropriate, is to regularly assess the data and detect, in a timely fashion, any unacceptable changes so as to initiate mitigative measures. Establishing and maintaining monitoring network will help to understand the regional groundwater flow systems through collection, storage, and dissemination of groundwater-related data that will facilitate evaluation of the Emirate groundwater resources for future planning and management programs and activities.
4. Economics: Economic analyses applied to future groundwater management must consider the institutional and management tools necessary to achieve sustainability within the constraints of the physical and chemical attributes of the natural resource system. The economic consequences of alternative management programs, including programs that constrain groundwater development, should also be considered. Other economic considerations include the costs and benefits attached to a desired level of certainty for attaining sustainability.
5. Education and Public Awareness: The future of sustainable groundwater management depends very much on the water literacy of the general public, as well as well-rounded education and training of surface and groundwater management professionals. The importance of science education and the application of earth sciences, including hydrology and hydrogeology, and engineering in sustaining groundwater resources must be recognized. Public outreach programs on water education need to be supported and expanded; society’s understanding of the need for creative management programs, including conjunctive management, water transfers, recycled water use, efficient water use and potential long-term costs, will become increasingly important.
9- References
Dawoud M (2006) The role of desalination in augmentation of water supply in GCC countries. Desalination 186:187–198
ERWDA, 2009 Water Resources Statistics bulletin for Abu Dhabi Emirate 2009 ERWDA/Mott Macdonald International (MMI), 2004. Preliminary Assessment of the Water Situation in the Eastern
and Central Regions of Abu Dhabi Emirate. ERWDA/FEA 2005 Assessment of residual Pesticide and Fertiliser Residues in groundwater in Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Final Report EAD, Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi (2006) Report of water resources of Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE GTZ/Dornier Consult/ADNOC 2005 Status Report Phases 1Xa, 1Xb and 1Xc for Groundwater Assessment Project
Abu Dhabi.
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US Geological Survey (USGS) 1996. Groundwater resources of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Wood, W.W., and Imes, J.L., 1995. How wet is wet? Precipitation constraints on late Quaternary climate in the
southern Arabian Peninsula: Journal of Hydrology, v. 164, p. 263-268. Czarnecki, J.B; Sanford, W.; and Wood, W.W; 2000, Brine Resources in Coastal Sabkahs of Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates: U.S. Geological Report Administrative Report, July 2000, 98p., Prepared for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
UAE University 1993. Atlas for United Arab Emirates. Wood. W.W. & Sanford, W.E 2002. Hydrogeology and solute chemistry of the coastal – sabkha aquifer in the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In Sabkha Ecosystem, Vol 1- The Sabkhas of the Arabian Peninsula and Adjacent countries. Hans – Joerg Barth & Benno Boer, Eds, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 354p.
