Groundwater in North Africa: Effects of Climatic and Anthropogenic Pressures on Groundwater Availability

Due to aridity, shortage, and sporadic rainfall in North African countries, groundwater represents a potential source for drinking and irrigation purposes. The groundwater in North Africa is found in shallow and deep aquifers. The latter is considered “fossil” because of not being recharged by present “modern” rainfall. Fossil aquifers are being seriously depleted due to excessive pumping and overexploitation. The major deep fossil aquifers in North Africa typically cross the borders between countries and are referred to as transboundary aquifers. Such aquifers consist mainly of sandstone and have large thicknesses and extension areas with significant hydrogeological parameters such as the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System and the Northwestern Sahara Aquifer System. Insufficient water supply to sustain the increasing population in North Africa and the Sahara Desert countries has spurred scientific research to better understand the nature, origin, and hydrogeologic setting of these aquifer systems in the region. This chapter presents a comprehensive analysis of the major transboundary aquifer systems located beneath the Sahara Desert, highlighting their potential and strategic role in addressing freshwater scarcity to expand agricultural and economic endeavors. Remote sensing data offer a cost-effective approach for monitoring and formulating sustainable management strategies for these systems. Results show that The Northwestern Sahara Aquifer System faces groundwater depletion, necessitating urgent integrated responses and management strategies to decrease extraction rates and encourage sustainable utilization, however specific areas within the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System show promising groundwater resources. Further research is essential to examine the mechanisms and timing of recharge within these aquifer systems and understand the contemporary contributions to these systems. These scientific investigations are crucial for finding solutions to the urgent water supply challenges in this arid/hyper-arid region.