Analysis of the Water Resources Status in Kuwait

Abstract

The acute lack of natural water resources in Kuwait is indisputable. The country essentially has one limited natural water resource that is groundwater, while the majority of the country's demands are met by seawater desalination. Notwithstanding this scarcity calls for careful foresighted utilization of the water resources, no clear plans is being followed. Attempting to initiate the planning process, this paper gives an assessment of the current status of water resources availability, production, future demand and expected increases in production, in Kuwait. While the desalination and wastewater reuse are only bounded by economical considerations, considerable efforts have already been made in assessing the baseline of the groundwater resources in Kuwait; nonetheless, no estimation is available of the aquifer system potential for sustainable development or even mining. The total water budget in 2001 is estimated at 655 Million m 3 , with desalination, groundwater production, and wastewater reuse constituting 59%, 32% and 9% respectively. The projected water demand for 2010 is 1020 Million m 3 . The plans of the Ministry of Electricity and Water and the Ministry of Public Works indicated that groundwater would cover 52% of the planned additional production, while desalination and wastewater reuse would cover 44% and 4% respectively. While the proposed increase in groundwater production would inevitably consume the only natural water resource of the country, only 40% of the generated wastewater is to be utilized. The absence of integrated planning is also manifested in the total planned production that surpasses the projected demands by more than 17%.

Effects of Lateral Heterogeneity on 1D D.C. Resistivity and Transient Electromagnetic Soundings in Kuwait

“…Kuwait has the largest domestic water consumption in the world, 500 liters/cap/day in 2011 (Gulf News, 2011), which is supplied by desalinated seawater (90%) and brackish groundwater (10%), (Fadlemawla and Al-Otaibi, 2005). Al-Otaibi and Mukhopadhyay, (2005), and Fadlemawla and Al-Otaibi, (2005), indicate that only 30% of treated wastewater is being reused, and contributes to 25% of the irrigated agriculture needs, the remaining supply being from the over-exploited brackish groundwater aquifers.…”

“…Al-Otaibi and Mukhopadhyay, (2005), and Fadlemawla and Al-Otaibi, (2005), indicate that only 30% of treated wastewater is being reused, and contributes to 25% of the irrigated agriculture needs, the remaining supply being from the over-exploited brackish groundwater aquifers. Therefore, if the treated wastewater could be stored rather than disposed of in the Gulf Sea, it could serve the double purpose of restoring over-exploited aquifers and encouraging more efficient use of the existing water supply, for example, by increasing its use in irrigated agriculture.…”

Towards Sustainable Water Policy in Kuwait: Reforms of the Current Practices and the Required Investments, Institutional and Legislative Measures

“…Although a considerable amount of literature can be found on water resources of Kuwait, a lot of it is on the assessment and characterization of the resources (Bergstrom and Aten 1964;Senay 1977;Al-Ruwaih 1984;Mukhopadhyay et al 1996;Al-Sulaimi et al 1997;Al-Rashed and Sherif 2000;Fadlelmawla et al 2007;and others), significantly less studies are on specific management issues (Darwish and Al-Najem 2005;Mukhopadhyay et al 1994Mukhopadhyay et al , 2000Mukhopadhyay et al , 2001Al-Rashed et al 1998;Fadlelmawla 2006) and even less studies on the overall water resources and their management issues (Fadlelmawla and Al-Otaibi 2005;Al-Otaibi and Mukhopadhyay 2005). Fadlelmawla and Al-Otaibi (2005) provide an account of the available water resources of the country, discuss the current and projected production and demands, and criticize some of the current management practices while providing alternatives.…”

“…Fadlelmawla and Al-Otaibi (2005) provide an account of the available water resources of the country, discuss the current and projected production and demands, and criticize some of the current management practices while providing alternatives. Al-Otaibi and Mukhopadhyay (2005) overview some of the options available for managing the water resources of Kuwait, with the emphasis on reducing demand.…”

Strategic Zoning for Urban Wastewater Reuse in China

“…In water limited countries and regions, it is a proved practice to reuse municipal wastewater as industrial, agricultural, residential and ecological water source (Asano and Levine 1996;Friedler 2001;Al-Rashed and Sherif 2000;Ogoshi 2001;USEPA 2004;Angelakis and Bontoux 2001;Riper and Geselbracht 1999;Eusuff and Lansey 2004) with sufficient risk control (Ganoulis and Papalopoulou 1996;Liu and Mattiasson 2002;Wilderer et al 2002), acceptable costs (Mujeriego andAsano 1999;Lazarova et al 1999;OECD 1999a, b;Fadlelmawla and Al-Otaibi 2005), and increasing public participation (USEPA 2004;Riper and Geselbracht 1999;Wegner-Guidt 1991). China has also realized the importance of urban wastewater reuse as a type of unconventional source water (Zhou 2001;Zhang and Qian 1991).…”