With facts and figures.. Learn about the water situation and the manifestations of the water crisis in the Arab world

Arab Weather - March 22 of every year falls on World Water Day, and every year this day carries a warning bell for Arab countries to rearrange their positions regarding the issue of water, which is one of the most serious issues facing the region.

On this international occasion of World Water Day, we review the reality of the water situation in the Arab region to alert the Arab citizen to the seriousness of the issue, and to know that there is a duty to do in order to preserve this scarce resource, which will increase the demand for it in 2040 by 50%, while it will increase The demand for energy in the same year was only about 25%, which reflects the importance of water in the next stage.

Manifestations of the water crisis in the Arab region

The Arab region is located within the belt of arid and dry lands, and most Arab countries suffer from severe water scarcity because it is located in a region of scarce rain, as the average per capita share of renewable water in 2020 did not exceed 650 cubic meters annually, ranging from 5 cubic meters annually in Kuwait, and 2472 cubic meters per year in Mauritania.

The following is the classification of Arab countries in terms of water availability, according to the Unified Arab Report 2021:

• Absolute water scarcity countries: where the per capita share is less than 500 cubic meters annually, which are 13 countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, Djibouti, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia.
• Water scarcity countries: in which the per capita share ranges between 500-1000 cubic meters annually, and they are six countries: Somalia, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Sudan and Morocco.
• The per capita share did not exceed the water scarcity limit estimated at about 1,000 cubic meters annually, except in only three countries: Iraq, Mauritania and Comoros .

The reasons for the exacerbation of the water crisis in the Arab countries

The water crisis in the Arab countries is worsening year after year as a result of several factors, the most important of which are:

• Population growth and water demand growth with constant annual renewable water quantities.
• Changing patterns of water and food consumption as a result of urban growth and improved living standards.
• The continuous expansion of irrigated agriculture and the great waste of irrigation water due to the spread of traditional flood irrigation.
• Limited success in diversifying the economic activity of the population and directing it towards non-agricultural activities.
• The continuing weakness of the institutions entrusted with managing the demand for water, rationalizing its use, and applying the principles and requirements of integrated management.
• It is likely that the water conditions in the Arab countries will worsen due to the expected effects of climate change.
• The increasing challenges faced by some Arab countries regarding their rights to the waters of the rivers shared with neighboring countries, especially on the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates rivers

Therefore, it is estimated that the average annual share of renewable water per capita will decline to about half in approximately every 30 years, as this average fell from about 1350 cubic meters annually in 1990, to about 650 cubic meters annually in 2020, and is expected to drop to About 300 ^m3 /year by 2050.

Read also: On World Water Day 2022 - What is groundwater? And what is its importance?

Water sources in Arab countries

The average volume of rainwater that the Arab countries receive annually is estimated at about 1692 billion cubic meters, of which, after evaporation losses, about 710 billion cubic meters remain, representing the average volume of renewable water annually. This quantity is distributed as follows:

1. Blue water or traditional water: Its average annual volume is estimated at about 267 billion cubic meters, and it consists of:

• The water of rivers, lakes, and the water of renewable underground reservoirs, or open reservoirs that are fed directly from rain, torrents and rivers, and its annual volume is estimated at about 220 billion cubic metres.
• The water of non-renewable underground reservoirs or closed reservoirs in which water has accumulated for thousands of years (fossil water), and the annual use of it is estimated at about 47 billion cubic meters, and pumping from it is increasing annually to cover the deficit and meet the increasing demand.

2. Green water: It is rain water that permeates the soil and is stored in it for the benefit of the vegetation cover later, in pastures, agricultural lands and forests, and its average annual volume is estimated at about 443 billion cubic meters.
3. Unconventional water: In addition to blue water and green water, Arab countries annually produce about 75 billion cubic meters of unconventional water, including:

• 29 billion cubic meters of agricultural wastewater.
• About 25 billion cubic meters of industrial and wastewater , and it is estimated that only about 14 billion cubic meters of industrial and wastewater are collected, about 10 billion cubic meters are treated and only about 4 billion cubic meters are reused.
• About 21 billion cubic meters of desalinated water .

The amount of water wastage in the Arab region

Waste in the Arab region is not limited to water, but it includes other economic fields, such as food, agricultural crops (when collected and packaged), and energy, but with regard to water, the traditional irrigation methods in the Arab region are one of the most important causes of water wastage.

The figures on water use in the Arab region - among the various activities - indicate that the agricultural sector accounts for 84% of the water consumed, while the domestic consumption accounts for 9%, and 7% goes to industrial and commercial activities.

It is estimated that the percentage of waste in the water used in the agricultural activity ranges between 25 and 30%, due to traditional irrigation systems, as well as irrigating crops more than once, or increasing rations more than necessary at one time.

What are the Arab countries' options to face water scarcity?

Over the past three decades, Arab countries have made unremitting efforts, at the national and regional levels, to confront the water crisis, the most important of which are:

• Facing the increasing demand for water by intensifying awareness and rationalization programs.
• Expansion of modern irrigation systems, and the use of strains of seeds that consume less water.
• Increase water storage by building dams.
• Expansion of desalination, treatment and reuse of waste water.

Despite these efforts, many Arab countries resort to covering the water deficit through the excessive use of underground aquifers.

The effects of the Corona pandemic on the water-scarce Arab region

In a study by ESCWA entitled "The Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Water-Scarce Arab Region", it was indicated that there is an expected increase in water consumption by 5%, due to the requirements of hand-washing as a preventive measure against corona infection.

And she explains that this will increase the burdens of Arab families by about 150-250 million dollars per month, and not only that, but there are about 74 million people who are highly vulnerable to infection with Corona, because they do not have the facilities necessary to wash hands.

The study also indicated that 87 million people are exposed to infection with corona due to the failure to provide an improved source of drinking water in their homes, and it is expected that about 26 million displaced people will be infected with corona due to the lack of water, sanitation and personal hygiene services in the places where the displaced are located.

Source of the numbers: The Unified Arab Report 2021