Potential natural obstacles to groundwater engineering
Nasser Farhat,
Walid Sleiman
Abstract:Countries have constantly experienced problems with water resources: much, little, polluted, variable. Over generations, humankind has tried to manage these water resources problems by intervening in its natural courses through redistribution, storage, and regulation. Management and exploitation resulted in systematic knowledge of the behavior of surface and underground water. The center of importance subsequently shifted to groundwater at the beginning of the 20 th century, notably because of its importance f… Show more
“…"The water deficit in Lebanon is linked to various factors, including "rapid population growth in the region (Bou-Zeid & El-Fadel, ibid Spinoni, J. et al, 2021)" unplanned expansion of inhabited urban areas, unregulated tourist projects along riverbanks, the influx of Syrian refugees, and poor distribution of water resources [7]. Additionally, there are issues of pollution and administrative reform failures.…”
Section: Water Scarcity: Multiple Causes One Outcomementioning
confidence: 99%
“…In the lack of supervision and the rule of law, hundreds of water pumping stations have been set up on river courses and water points. According to the National Litany Water Authority, these stations have contributed to the disappearance of many springs, the deterioration of many perennial rivers, and the reduction of their discharge 7 .…”
Water scarcity is a paramount developmental and livelihood issue globally, posing life-threatening challenges in the Arab world and the Eastern Mediterranean. This scarcity manifests in two forms: physical scarcity, due to insufficient water resulting from local environmental conditions, and economic scarcity, characterized by inadequate water infrastructure. When these forms of scarcity converge, they lead to severe water stress, exemplified by regions experiencing both low rainfall and inadequate water storage and sanitation facilities. In Lebanon, state policies, or the lack thereof, have significantly exacerbated water scarcity. Governmental negligence and mismanagement of water resources, compounded by insufficient investment in infrastructure, have intensified both physical and economic water scarcities. The lack of effective water conservation policies, poor maintenance of existing water facilities, and failure to develop new water projects have led to severe water stress, hindering developmental progress and threatening the livelihoods and health of the population. The combined effect of environmental challenges and governmental inaction has made water scarcity a critical issue, necessitating immediate and comprehensive interventions to ensure sustainable water management and availability for the future.
“…"The water deficit in Lebanon is linked to various factors, including "rapid population growth in the region (Bou-Zeid & El-Fadel, ibid Spinoni, J. et al, 2021)" unplanned expansion of inhabited urban areas, unregulated tourist projects along riverbanks, the influx of Syrian refugees, and poor distribution of water resources [7]. Additionally, there are issues of pollution and administrative reform failures.…”
Section: Water Scarcity: Multiple Causes One Outcomementioning
confidence: 99%
“…In the lack of supervision and the rule of law, hundreds of water pumping stations have been set up on river courses and water points. According to the National Litany Water Authority, these stations have contributed to the disappearance of many springs, the deterioration of many perennial rivers, and the reduction of their discharge 7 .…”
Water scarcity is a paramount developmental and livelihood issue globally, posing life-threatening challenges in the Arab world and the Eastern Mediterranean. This scarcity manifests in two forms: physical scarcity, due to insufficient water resulting from local environmental conditions, and economic scarcity, characterized by inadequate water infrastructure. When these forms of scarcity converge, they lead to severe water stress, exemplified by regions experiencing both low rainfall and inadequate water storage and sanitation facilities. In Lebanon, state policies, or the lack thereof, have significantly exacerbated water scarcity. Governmental negligence and mismanagement of water resources, compounded by insufficient investment in infrastructure, have intensified both physical and economic water scarcities. The lack of effective water conservation policies, poor maintenance of existing water facilities, and failure to develop new water projects have led to severe water stress, hindering developmental progress and threatening the livelihoods and health of the population. The combined effect of environmental challenges and governmental inaction has made water scarcity a critical issue, necessitating immediate and comprehensive interventions to ensure sustainable water management and availability for the future.
Groundwater is a significant source of water supply, especially with depleted and quality-deteriorated surface water. The number of drilled boreholes for groundwater has been increased, but erroneous results often occur while selecting sites for digging boreholes. This makes it necessary to follow a science-based method indicating potential zones for groundwater storage. The LithoSFR Model is a systematic approach we built to create an indicative map with various categories for potential groundwater sites. It is based mainly on retrieved geospatial data from satellite images and from available thematic maps, plus borehole data. The geospatial data were systematically manipulated in a GIS with multi-criteria applications. The novelty of this model includes the empirical calculation of the level each controlling factor (i.e., weights and rates), as well as the LithoSFR Model, adopting new factors in its design. This study was applied on a representative Mediterranean region, i.e., Lebanon. Results showed that 44% of the studied region is characterized by a very high to high potentiality for groundwater storage, mainly in areas with fractured and karstified carbonate rocks. The obtained results from the produced map were compared with datasets which were surveyed from representative boreholes to identify the discharge in the dug boreholes, and then to compare them with the potential zones in the produced map The reliability of the produced map exceeded 87%, making it a significant tool to identify potential zones for groundwater investment.
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