Enhancing Water Sustainability in North Africa: Literature Review and Synthesis of Current Knowledge Gaps in Sudan

Authors

Osman M. A. Adam, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Aaron R. Mittelstet, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Derek M. Heeren, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Troy E. Gilmore, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

7-2024

Document Type

Presentation

Citation

ASABE Annual International Meeting (Anaheim, California, United States : July 2024): Paper No. 2400159, 13 pages

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

Comments

Copyright 2024, ASABE. Used by permission

Abstract

This study delves into the critical role of groundwater in addressing global water challenges, with a focus on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) in North Africa. Groundwater constitutes a source of potable water, irrigation, and industrial use, especially in arid regions where surface water is limited. We analyzed the status of water quantity, withdrawals, recharge, and geological characteristics in the NSAS, specifically in Sudan, Egypt, Libya, and Chad. Though the NSAS is largely an untapped resource, we evaluated various scenarios to determine the quantity of cropland that can be sustainably irrigated. The NSAS is located in an arid region, so local recharge does not exceed 10 mm/year. The primary source of recharge comes from the River Nile. The annual recharge is the following: Sudan Platform: 1.44 ± 0.42 km³/yr, Dakhla: 0.135 km³/yr, Kufra: 0.78 ± 0.49 km³/yr. Withdrawal rates are as follows: Egypt: 1.029 km³/yr; Libya: 0.851 km³/yr; Sudan: 0.406 km³/yr; and Chad: 0.001 km³/yr. The amount of water in the (NSAS) in North Africa is estimated at approximately 150,000 km³. This volume is equivalent to about 500 years' worth of the Nile River's discharge. The NSAS is the most extensive fossil aquifer complex globally underlying an area of 2,200,000 km². The findings contribute valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and communities grappling with the challenges of groundwater resources to face climate change and water demands.