Mohammed Tahir Hussein

Groundwater Rights and Legislation for Sustainable Development in Arid Regions: The Case of Saudi Arabia

The main objective of this article is to shed light on an important issue of water conservation-groundwater rights and legislation. Principles of groundwater rights are detailed and their applications to major aquifer systems, groundwater basins and wadis are discussed. Legislation and the clarification of water rights are vital for the sustainable development of groundwater. They are urgently needed in Saudi Arabia in particular and in all areas where demand exceeds supply. Legislation is one of the main pillars upon which any conservation policy is built. In this article a model is suggested for groundwater allocation in aquifers shared by more than one state.

Upconing and Saline Water Intrusion and the Need for Water Conservation in the Lower Part of Wadi Fatimah, Western Saudi Arabia

Shallow aquifers were exploited in western Saudi Arabia a long time ago in history. In the last five decades, and under the conditions of an increasing supply of water, many new wells were drilled at relatively deeper intervals than the hand-dug wells of the time. In the downstream part of Wadi Fatimah, and over time, more saline water has been brought up in a number of wells. Overexploitation of groundwater for industrial and agricultural purposes has led to the appearance of two phenomena responsible for the salinization-upconing and saline water intrusion. Upconing occurs in separate pockets while saline water encroachment affects the lower part of Wadi Fatimah and the area towards the Red Sea coast. This article deals with the identification and delineation of areas affected by each of the two phenomena. The methodologies used in this work are mainly hydrogeological and hydrochemical. Resistivity surveys helped in delineating the fresh water-saline water interface. Methods to control upconing and saline water intrusion are suggested to safeguard the aquifer from further contamination. Effective conservation measures are recommended for the protection of groundwater resources in Wadi Fatimah.