Abstract
Climate change is having short- and long-term impacts on surface and groundwater in the northern part of the African continent. This has led to a wide range of consequences that have added pressure on the groundwater systems in this part of the world. Among such pressures, we can cite the mal-distribution and the irregularity of precipitation and ice, flooding, evaporitic sediments input by the drainage net, water degradation, mud stagnation in dams, dead tranche, drought, decreasing of the natural recharge and increasing of the groundwater abstraction, conflict between trans-boundary waters, desertification, imbalance between the regions, migration, revolution, socio-economic imbalance, etc. Actually, water-monitoring networks indicate noticeable hydrogeologic variations and a rise of the groundwater salinity. It was confirmed by the geochemical analysis of water resources that showed scattered data between the northern part characterized by low mineralized groundwater (TDS ranging 0.4–3 g/l) and the southern area where the salinity ranges from 2.5 to 90 g/l. The obtained values are far above the permissible limits for both human consumption, agricultural and tourist activities. These effects, when compounded, are anticipated to worsen the situation and to constitute veritable threats for social and economic development in these regions of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, etc.). The potential solutions consist of taking urgent to utilize the intelligent technology (bio and nano-technology), policies relevant policies to manage water resources, and the engagement of private, civil, and international sectors if a major crisis is to be averted (collective effort).
Highlights
In North African arid/desert lands, groundwater is the only source of water supply for most of the local demand
Just like most of the countries in the world, the populations in southern Mediterranean countries live under water stress (< 450 l/person/year), defined as those using more than 20% of their renewable water resources (WBGU 2003), while the withdrawal of over 40–50% mean serious water stress (Pittock 2007; Melki et al 2017; Hamed et al 2017a, b; El Gayar and Hamed 2017; Hamed 2017)
Climate change is associated with changes in both surface and groundwater supply for domestic, agricultural, industrial, and tourism uses, including irrigation, navigation, and fishing, etc. (IPCC, TAR 2001)
Summary
In North African arid/desert lands, groundwater (depth > 500 m) is the only source of water supply for most of the local demand (agricultural, industry, tourism, and domestic). Just like most of the countries in the world, the populations in southern Mediterranean countries live under water stress (< 450 l/person/year), defined as those using more than 20% of their renewable water resources (WBGU 2003), while the withdrawal of over 40–50% mean serious water stress (Pittock 2007; Melki et al 2017; Hamed et al 2017a, b; El Gayar and Hamed 2017; Hamed 2017). The ONU estimates that in 2025, 25 African countries are expected to suffer from water scarcity or water
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