Mediterranean Water Outlook: Perspective on Policies and Water Management in Arab Countries

Abstract

The Mediterranean Region is usually characterized by its water stress situation. However, water availability is completely different between the North and the South (including the East) of the Mediterranean Sea. While the North may enjoy more than adequate amounts of rainfall, it is mostly the South that gives the Mediterranean Region the identity of water scarcity. The countries in the south and the east of the Mediterranean Sea include the eight Arab countries, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.

This chapter gives an outlook on the water characteristics in the Mediterranean countries, in terms of per capita share of renewable water resources, as well as sectoral water uses by country. It highlights the different levels of dependencies between the North and the South, on the different forms of water, and in particular different dependencies on “green water” and “blue water” in sectoral uses. This chapter also reflects on the status of water supply and sanitation services coverage in the Mediterranean countries and the requirements to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in water supply and sanitation. Potential for sectoral water savings and wastewater reuse in the Mediterranean countries is presented.

The various regional strategies and legal frameworks that govern water management in the Mediterranean countries at the European, Mediterranean, and Arab Region levels are presented.

This chapter also presents a perspective on the required uniqueness in national policies and water management in the Arab countries in the Mediterranean due to water issues that characterize the Arab countries in the Mediterranean such as those related to nonrenewable groundwater management, transboundary water management, water scarcity, sea water intrusion, and wastewater reuse. The status of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plan development in the Arab countries in the Mediterranean is presented.