A Tale of Two Countries: The Potential of Managed Aquifer Recharge in Pakistan and Egypt

Egypt and Pakistan face significant challenges in groundwater management. This chapter investigates groundwater management challenges in Egypt and Pakistan, focusing on the pivotal role of the Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS) in Pakistan. Despite its abundant irrigation and groundwater resources, IBIS has faced depletion due to stalled surface storage since 1976, leading to an annual groundwater decline of 1.2 feet. The chapter suggests Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) through surface water as a viable solution to rehabilitate IBIS’s groundwater. In Egypt, where groundwater use surpasses safe yield, key aquifers are overexploited. The chapter highlights effective supply-side management, especially in the Nile Delta and coastal regions, emphasizing the MAR technique to enhance groundwater. The chapter concludes with urgent recommendations for policymakers in both countries to address these critical groundwater management challenges.