An Overview of Water Resource Challenges and Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) in the MENA Region

This chapter addresses the critical water scarcity issues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which grapples with a dry climate and less than 1% of the world’s freshwater, affecting its half-billion population. Factors exacerbating this scarcity include the region's low rainfall, below 200 mm annually, water quality issues, and excessive groundwater usage, exemplified by Saudi Arabia's annual extraction of 20 km3. Additionally, rapid population growth and potential climate change impacts, possibly reducing rainfall by up to 20%, place further strain on the already limited water resources. With agriculture consuming from 75% to 90 of the water in MENA, the pressure intensifies. Current solutions such as desalination, as practiced in the UAE, and Egypt’s wastewater reuse and sewage treatment, while effective, are energy-intensive and pose environmental challenges. This chapter proposes Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) as a sustainable solution to these challenges. MAR, recognized for its cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits, offers a promising approach for groundwater replenishment in arid regions. The chapter presents an overview of the dire water situation in the MENA region, the increasing demands due to population and economic growth, and explores the application of various MAR methods. It includes case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of MAR in sustainable water management in the MENA region. The chapter concludes by offering strategic recommendations for policymakers and water managers on integrating MAR into regional water resource planning and addressing water resource challenges in the MENA region.