Assessing the Cost of Groundwater Degradation in the Urbanizing Desert Area of Wadi El Natrun

Abstract

This chapter shows how economic models and analysis can be used to capture the cost of environmental degradation. A series of approaches to assessing the costs of environmental degradation are explored in the context of a fast-growing desert settlement on the edge of Egypt's Western Desert. First, a modeling approach focusing on the local agro-industrial economy and the loss of productivity caused by degradation in groundwater availability and quality is considered. This is based on integrating available environmental and economic models of the area. A second modeling approach isolates replacement costs associated with loss of artesianism and the failure of wells as groundwater extraction increases. Third and fi nally, a holistic approach to the valuation of the degradation of the desert ecosystem and its natural services is outlined. The fi nal discussion considers the perspective for further use of these methods by local decision-makers at the Wadi El Natrun City Council, and other local authorities in rapidly developing regions.

Tracing the trade-offs at the energy-water-environment nexus in drought-prone urbanising regions

“…In all four of the study areas, increasing reliance on groundwater and falling water tables are reported to have increased groundwater pumping costs. Previous studies have demonstrated and quantified these effects in Tunisia (Croitoru et al 2010), parts of the Nile Delta (King and Salem 2013), and also in ENNCA (King-Okumu et al 2018). Quantitative assessments of energy demands and costs for pumping groundwater for the Bekaa valley case study could not be identified through the review of published literature.…”

The Use of Green Design Strategies for Achieving Thermal Comfort (Applying PMV as a Measurement Tool)

“…It is specifically located at the eastern boundary of the Egyptian Western desert adjacent to the Nile Delta, just west of the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road located approximately 110 km from Alexandria and 90 km from Cairo .It is about 10 km west of the entrance to Sadat City. The selected neighborhood's geographical position is on longitudes 30°05'-30°36'E and latitudes 30°29'-30°17'N as shown in figure 2 (King & Salem, 2013). As can be seen in Figure 3, the main areas of the site are hard and impermeable, while very little areas are permeable.…”