Abstract
This study proposes a large-scale artificial aquifer recharge plan to increase the strategic water reserve to cope with future emergencies. The main aim of the plan is to restore groundwater levels to those of the 1980s through artificial recharge. Desalinated water or highly treated municipal sewage effluent could be artificially recharged into the aquifer to recharge it. Potentiometric surface of aquifers and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis were used to assess change in the groundwater levels between 1980 and 2009. Zones that have experienced considerable decline in groundwater levels from their former “natural” status—when the aquifers were barely exploited, were identified. These zones are considered optimum recharge sites as they could provide ‘natural’ ground storage chosen by nature. Therefore, working with nature (not against it) by re-filling these natural spaces is the optimum approach. The artificial recharge of the main and principal upper aquifer in Qatar (Rus and Um er Radhuma) is targeted and recommended. It is estimated that up to 182.8 Million Cubic Meter (mcm) could be recharged and stored in these proposed zones, to increase the strategic water reserve of the country. This increase would sustain supplies of high quality for up to three months if consumption is maintained at the 2018 level. Moreover, this additional reserve could last for over one year, if emergency measures were put in place—in case of serious water-shortages, and disaster preparedness, for example by reducing the per capita consumption to the global average per capita consumption.
Highlights
This study proposes a large-scale artificial aquifer recharge plan to increase the strategic water reserve to cope with future emergencies
Qatar strategic water reserves is enough for only seven days, according to official statistics, as most of the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) countries
This reliance on desalination makes the country very vulnerable to disasters in the Gulf that could prevent water intake to the desalination plants. Natural disasters such as red-tide outbreak, and man-made disasters such as oil-spills are examples of these disasters that could stop desalination plants in the Gulf for days, possibly months. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that strategic water reserve in the State of Qatar is enough for only seven days
Summary
This study proposes a large-scale artificial aquifer recharge plan to increase the strategic water reserve to cope with future emergencies. Natural disasters such as red-tide outbreak, and man-made disasters such as oil-spills are examples of these disasters that could stop desalination plants in the Gulf for days, possibly months This vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that strategic water reserve in the State of Qatar is enough for only seven days. The current strategic water reserves in Qatar would only be sufficient for seven d ays[1,4] This limited strategic storage capacity renders Qatar vulnerable to major man-made and natural disasters such as oil spills and red-tides respectively, that might interrupt the operation of the desalination plants or cause them to shut down for a considerable period of time
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