The Status of the Applications of the Managed Aquifer Recharge in the Sultanate of Oman

Water resources in arid regions have been an urgent issue over the last decades. Oman’s geography and climate make it highly susceptible to water scarcity, prompting the need for sustainable water management practices. Water is the main requirement for all basic needs of any community including food production, industrial activities, and overall economic development. Water supply systems in Sultanate of Oman are subjected to several challenges that lead to the contamination and deterioration of water, such as agricultural activities, making the quality of available water resources not suitable for domestic use. Several factors affect these water resources, but the dry arid climates combined with the increasing issue of climate change and the rapid increase in population are the main factors since rainfalls are unpredictable and infrequent. The low levels of annual rainfall rates affect the level of groundwater aquifers since rainfall is their main source of recharge. This led to an interest in artificial groundwater recharge to prevent the constant decrease in the groundwater levels, prevent seawater intrusion, and enhance the water supply. The government’s response to these issues has been through initiating desalination plants throughout the country, constructing wastewater treatment plants, and introducing the Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) and Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR). These techniques introduce the concept of water recycling, reduce land use and the risk of contamination, and increase the water supply that helps meet the increasing water demands. This chapter reviews conventional and non-conventional water resources and assesses the effectiveness of various water systems and future strategies in the water resources management sector in the Sultanate of Oman, including the use of ASR and MAR techniques.