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Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012
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Page 1: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula

Arthur RyzakUniversity of Texas at Austin

Spring-2012

Page 2: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Outline

• Objective– Describe the current status of groundwater mining in the Saudi

Arabian Peninsula, as well as the measures being taken to minimize future conflict and harm.

• Topics– Transboundary Aquifer Systems– Regional Challenges– Sustainable Solutions– International Cooperation– Conclusions– Readings– Questions for Discussion Source: flickriver.com

Page 3: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Transboundary Aquifer Systems

• Aquifer - A permeable water bearing geological formation underlain by a less permeable layer and the water contained in the saturated zone of the formation

• Transboundary aquifer” or “transboundary aquifer system” means, respectively, an aquifer or aquifer system, parts of which are situated in different States

• Groundwater Mining - Extraction of groundwater from an aquifer having predominantly non-renewable resources with depletion of aquifer reserves

Source: UN (2009)

Page 4: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Transboundary Aquifer Systems

Source: UNESCO-IHP (2006)

NationalBoundary

Page 5: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Transboundary Aquifer Systems

Source: UNESCO-IHP (2009)

Page 6: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Transboundary Aquifer Systems

Source: MAW (1984)

RelativeWater WithdrawalYemen = 176 m^3/c/yrS.A. = 979 m^3/c/yr

Page 7: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Regional Challenges

Source: gapminder.org (2012)

RelativeWater WithdrawalYemen = 176 m^3/c/yrS.A. = 979 m^3/c/yr

Page 8: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Regional Challenges

Very Little Groundwater Recharge

Page 9: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Regional Challenges

Very Little Precipitation

Page 10: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Regional Challenges

Very Little Overland Flow

Page 11: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Regional Challenges

50 Miles Southeast of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Page 12: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Regional ChallengesWater Usage and Demand in the Arabian Peninsula

Page 13: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Regional Challenges

• Groundwater mining is unsustainable– Renewable supply does not meet current

consumption demands– Population doubling time = 20yrs

• Groundwater mining has been considered necessary– Agricultural self-sufficiency and food security– Renewable sources inadequate for agriculture

• Sana’a Water Crisis– Potential of 2 million “water refugees”

Page 14: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Sustainable Solutions

• Reduce consumption– Agricultural policies and practices– Municipal management

• Increase supply– Desalination and wastewater reuse– Develop renewable resources– Piping projects

• Decrease effected population– Relocation to areas with better resources

• All these measures benefit from cooperation between states

Source: Saudiembassy.net

Page 15: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

International Cooperation

• Stakeholder Meetings– Arab Water Council– United Nations

• UN-ESCWA (Economic and Social Commission of Wester Asia)• UN-ISARM (International Shared Aquifer Resources Management Programme)• UN-IGRAC (International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre)

• Information Sharing, (e.g. Stakeholder Reports, Global Groundwater Information System, Global Groundwater Monitoring Network, whymap.org, Aquastat, GRACE, World Water Online)

• The Law of Transboundary Aquifer Systems Articles Drafted - UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/63/124 (2008)

• Agreements Developed, (Genovese aquifer, Guarani Aquifer, Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System)

Page 16: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

International CooperationThe Law of Transboundary Aquifer Systems

• Draft Articles - UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/63/124 (2008)– Each state has sovereignty over its portion of the aquifer system, according to the

articles and international law– Equitable and reasonable utilization – Obligation not to cause significant harm– Regular exchange of data and information– Aquifer states encouraged to enter into bilateral or regional agreements amongst

themselves– Protection, preservation, and management– Technical cooperation with developing states– Protected by the rules and principles of international law during times of armed

conflict– No provision on dispute resolution (but see Guarani Agreement)

• To be included as agenda item in 2012, with consideration of final form of the articles A/RES/66/104 (2011)

Page 17: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Conclusions

• Stakeholders recognizing the need for cooperation

• Major obstacles to adopting and implementing regional and basin-level agreements:– Direct result of the situation at the national level

where in most cases the national institutions in charge of water resources lack a clear mandate, which leads to overlaps and gaps

– The lack of local/basin institutions– Unfavorable political environment

Source: UN-ESCWA (2009)

Page 18: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Readings• Abdulrazzak, Mohamed (1997). Freshwater Resources in Arid Lands “The future of freshwater resources in the

Arabian peninsula”. UNU Global Environmental Forum V Report. http://archive.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu02fe/uu02fe06.htm

• MAW (Ministry of Agriculture and Water) (1984). Water Atlas of Saudi Arabia. MAW, Riyadh.

• UN (2009). General Assembly A/RES/63/124, “The law of Transboundary Aquifers” http://www.isarm.org/dynamics/modules/SFIL0100/view.php?fil_Id=227

• UN-ESCWA(2009). Expert Group Meeting on Applying IWRM Principles in Managing Shared Water Resources: Towards a Regional Vision. Beirut, 1-3 December 2009 E/ESCWA/SDPD/2009/WG.5/1/Report

• UNESCO-IHP (2009). “Atlas of Transboundary Aquifers” SC-2009/WS/22 http://www.isarm.org/publications/324

• Foster, S. and Loucks, D.P. (eds.). (2006). Non-renewable groundwater resources: A guidebook on socially-sustainable management for water-policy makers. IHP-VI, Series on Groundwater No. 10. UNESCO, Paris. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001469/146997e.pdf

• Arab Water Council (2004). State of the Water Report in the Arab Region. http://www.arabwatercouncil.org/index.php?CMS_P=203

• WEBSITES– ISARM Programme website <http://www.isarm.net>.– http://www.gapminder.org/world– http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/main/index.stm– http://www.un-igrac.org/publications/119– http://www.whymap.org/whymap/EN/Home/whymap_node.htm– http://www.inweb.gr

Page 19: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Questions for Discussion

What does this mean to you?

Photo Credit: “Ground Water Mining For Wheat To Be Phased Out In Saudi Arabia” treehugger.com

Into the well from which you drink, do not throw stones

Page 20: Mining of Transboundary Aquifers in the Saudi Arabian Peninsula Arthur Ryzak University of Texas at Austin Spring-2012.

Raoof Al Attar- Iraq, Second Arab Water Forum (2011)

• What opportunities are there for cooperation between states to address the water resources challenges of the region?

• In what ways are the draft articles of “The Law of Transboundary Aquifers” relevant to the groundwater mining situation of the region?

• How can the obstacles to implementing agreements be overcome?

Questions for Discussion


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