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An alternative solution of the water shortage problem in Libya

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  • Edawi Wheida
  • Ronny Verhoeven

Abstract

In Libya there is a growing awareness of increasing demand for fresh water while fossil groundwater supply is limited. This situation of water supply has become more problematic with rapidly increasing population and low rainfall. Hence soon after the discovery of fresh groundwater in the deserts of southern Libya, the local authority has made huge efforts to address its water deficit problems, mainly through the implementation of “The Great Manmade River Project” to sustain its economy. Especially the agriculture sector exceeds its traditional supplies. The Libyan authority began to design and install the hydraulic infrastructure needed to withdraw and transport this fossil water to various demand sites along its Mediterranean coast where most of the population lives and where the water is used. There is an over-exploitation of fossil groundwater resources to meet the irrigation demands as a result of adapting a self-sufficing policy in food. Rapid development of agricultural activity, expansion of irrigated areas and over irrigation practices will lead to more depletion of water resources since most of the country's groundwater resources are non-renewable. The supply-driven approach for water management has demonstrated its inability to deliver a substantial degree of water sustainability on the national Libyan level. Despite the strenuous efforts made by the country, it still faces serious water deficits due to continuously increasing water demands beyond the limits of its available water resources. As pressure on water converges on the country's fossil water resources, an immediate reconsideration of agricultural water extractions is needed and appropriate actions have to be implemented in response to its huge consumption. This policy aims at rescuing the present water situation and at avoiding serious environmental and economical crises. Reorganisation of the water consumption pattern, to maintain the country's standard of living and to ensure the economical security for the future generation is drastically needed. This paper considers the country's water management that requires water policy reforms, with emphasis on supply and demand management measures and improvement of the legal and institutional provisions. This could be achieved by reviewing agricultural water policies in order to minimise some local deficits in water resources and to avoid water quality deterioration in the coastal areas. Developing additional non-conventional sources of water supply needs to be considered. This should be supported by creating authorised water institutions lead by a high-professional staff and enabling them in making the appropriate legislation and decisive measurements to allocate water among consumptive sectors as well as to ensure the protection of the environment. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2007

Suggested Citation

  • Edawi Wheida & Ronny Verhoeven, 2007. "An alternative solution of the water shortage problem in Libya," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(6), pages 961-982, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:21:y:2007:i:6:p:961-982
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-006-9067-6
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nadjib Drouiche & Noreddine Ghaffour & Mohamed Naceur & Hacene Mahmoudi & Tarik Ouslimane, 2011. "Reasons for the Fast Growing Seawater Desalination Capacity in Algeria," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(11), pages 2743-2754, September.
    2. Tarun Goswami & Somnath Ghosal, 2023. "Examining the groundwater level in a semi-arid district of eastern India: spatiotemporal trends, determinants, and future prospects," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 10929-10953, October.
    3. Dagnachew Adugna & Marina Bergen Jensen & Brook Lemma & Geremew Sahilu Gebrie, 2018. "Assessing the Potential for Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting from Large Public Institutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Xiao-jun Wang & Jian-yun Zhang & Jiu-fu Liu & Guo-qing Wang & Rui-min He & Amgad Elmahdi & Sondoss Elsawah, 2011. "Water resources planning and management based on system dynamics: a case study of Yulin city," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 331-351, April.
    5. Wang Xiao-jun & Zhang Jian-yun & Wang Jian-hua & He Rui-min & Amgad ElMahdi & Liu Jin-hua & Wang Xin-gong & David King & Shamsuddin Shahid, 2014. "Climate change and water resources management in Tuwei river basin of Northwest China," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 107-120, January.
    6. Mohamed Ibrahim, 2009. "Rainwater Harvesting for Urban Areas: a Success Story from Gadarif City in Central Sudan," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(13), pages 2727-2736, October.
    7. Boxin Wang & Bin Wang & Xiaobing Zhao & Jiao Li & Dasheng Zhang, 2023. "Study and Evaluation of Dynamic Carrying Capacity of Groundwater Resources in Hebei Province from 2010 to 2017," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, March.
    8. Weiwei Shao & Dawen Yang & Heping Hu & Kenji Sanbongi, 2009. "Water Resources Allocation Considering the Water Use Flexible Limit to Water Shortage—A Case Study in the Yellow River Basin of China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(5), pages 869-880, March.
    9. Daniel Chami & Alessandra Scardigno & Giulio Malorgio, 2011. "Impacts of Combined Technical and Economic Measures on Water Saving in Agriculture under Water Availability Uncertainty," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(14), pages 3911-3929, November.
    10. Olanike Aladenola & Omotayo Adeboye, 2010. "Assessing the Potential for Rainwater Harvesting," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(10), pages 2129-2137, August.
    11. R. Amit & Parthasarathy Ramachandran, 2010. "A Fair Contract for Managing Water Scarcity," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(6), pages 1195-1209, April.
    12. Stéphanie Aulong & Madjid Bouzit & Nathalie Dörfliger, 2009. "Cost–Effectiveness Analysis of Water Management Measures in Two River Basins of Jordan and Lebanon," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(4), pages 731-753, March.
    13. Jauda R. Jouda Hamad & Marlia M. Hanafiah & Wan Zuhairi W. Yaakob, 2017. "Water Resources Management In Libya: Challenges And Future Prospects," Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (MJSA), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 1(2), pages 2-5, October.
    14. Rajesh Nune & Biju George & Pardhasaradhi Teluguntla & Andrew Western, 2014. "Relating Trends in Streamflow to Anthropogenic Influences: A Case Study of Himayat Sagar Catchment, India," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(6), pages 1579-1595, April.

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