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Syrian Water Resources between the Present and the Future

Mourad, Khaldoon A. LU and Berndtsson, Ronny LU orcid (2011) In Air, Soil and Water Research 4.
Abstract
Water scarcity is one of the main challenges facing Middle Eastern countries. A typical country in this respect is Syria. This paper estimates projections for the available water resources, water balance, and available water per capita (AWPC) in Syria until 2050 in relation to possible future climate changes, national development agendas, water constraints, and water management alternatives. Results show that the AWPC is likely to be reduced by about half up to 2050. Climate change and population growth will have a huge influence on water availability during the coming decades. However, effective water management can to a great extent counterbalance these negative effects. The implementation of modern irrigation practices and the reuse of... (More)
Water scarcity is one of the main challenges facing Middle Eastern countries. A typical country in this respect is Syria. This paper estimates projections for the available water resources, water balance, and available water per capita (AWPC) in Syria until 2050 in relation to possible future climate changes, national development agendas, water constraints, and water management alternatives. Results show that the AWPC is likely to be reduced by about half up to 2050. Climate change and population growth will have a huge influence on water availability during the coming decades. However, effective water management can to a great extent counterbalance these negative effects. The implementation of modern irrigation practices and the reuse of domestic wastewater, for example, can save up to 400-800 million cubic meters in 2050. If rainwater harvesting systems are implemented water availability can be utilized much more efficiently. Consequently, it appears that there are reasons to be alarmed but also cautiously optimistic regarding Syria's water availability. This, however, depends on the implementation of good development practices, integrated management and public participation at all levels. (Less)
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publication status
published
subject
in
Air, Soil and Water Research
volume
4
article number
ASWR.S8076
external identifiers
  • scopus:84855279267
DOI
10.4137/ASWR.S8076
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c0737042-6aae-4566-bf85-73ed86aa708c (old id 1757155)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 14:22:06
date last changed
2023-09-06 21:03:52
@article{c0737042-6aae-4566-bf85-73ed86aa708c,
  abstract     = {{Water scarcity is one of the main challenges facing Middle Eastern countries. A typical country in this respect is Syria. This paper estimates projections for the available water resources, water balance, and available water per capita (AWPC) in Syria until 2050 in relation to possible future climate changes, national development agendas, water constraints, and water management alternatives. Results show that the AWPC is likely to be reduced by about half up to 2050. Climate change and population growth will have a huge influence on water availability during the coming decades. However, effective water management can to a great extent counterbalance these negative effects. The implementation of modern irrigation practices and the reuse of domestic wastewater, for example, can save up to 400-800 million cubic meters in 2050. If rainwater harvesting systems are implemented water availability can be utilized much more efficiently. Consequently, it appears that there are reasons to be alarmed but also cautiously optimistic regarding Syria's water availability. This, however, depends on the implementation of good development practices, integrated management and public participation at all levels.}},
  author       = {{Mourad, Khaldoon A. and Berndtsson, Ronny}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  series       = {{Air, Soil and Water Research}},
  title        = {{Syrian Water Resources between the Present and the Future}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4137/ASWR.S8076}},
  doi          = {{10.4137/ASWR.S8076}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}