Managing Drought and Water Stress in Northern Africa

Abstract

Northern Africa is a region surrounding the northern portion of the African continent. Northern Africa consists of five countries Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. Northern Africa has semi-arid and arid desert climates and low rainfall. Over the past four decades, many areas in Northern Africa have faced drought which has become more widespread, prolonged and frequent due to climate variability and which may expedite a shortage of water and to a decrease in the land areas suitable for agriculture. In fact, limited water reserves, growing population and droughts are the main factors reflected in the increased consumption of freshwater. It is critical to understand a balance between water demand and supply by managing drought and water stress in the region.

MCDA-based Assessment of Industrial Practices for Groundwater Preservation and Pollution Reduction

“…This degradation is primarily attributed to the improper use of various substances, such as fertilizers, heavy metals, and organic micropollutants, across different sectors (Aouiti et al 2021;Khouni et al 2021). Additionally, periods of rainfall shortage and recurring droughts exacerbate the depletion of aquifers and freshwater sources (Kahil et al 2015;Belhassan 2021Belhassan , 2022. In arid and semi-arid regions, the scarcity of fresh water resources has led to the overexploitation of groundwater, impacting its availability (Kahil et al 2015;Belhassan 2021Belhassan , 2022.…”

“…Additionally, periods of rainfall shortage and recurring droughts exacerbate the depletion of aquifers and freshwater sources (Kahil et al 2015;Belhassan 2021Belhassan , 2022. In arid and semi-arid regions, the scarcity of fresh water resources has led to the overexploitation of groundwater, impacting its availability (Kahil et al 2015;Belhassan 2021Belhassan , 2022. Furthermore, the deterioration of water quality, largely resulting from the discharge of polluted wastewaters into water bodies and unregulated artificial aquifer recharge, poses serious threats to biodiversity, human health, and economic development.…”

Assessing the Quality of Treated Wastewater for Irrigation: A Case Study of Ain Sefra Wastewater Treatment Plant

“…This limited availability of freshwater sources in Algeria can be attributed to its arid and semiarid climate, characterized by irregular rainfall patterns and high evapotranspiration rates [9]. A major challenge faced by Algeria is the irregularity of rainfall, with some regions experiencing prolonged droughts while others have more regular precipitation [10]. This spatial disparity in rainfall patterns adds complexity to water availability and management across different areas of the country.…”

Meteorological Drought Variability over Africa from Multisource Datasets

“…According to Addi et al [19], the standardized precipitation index (SPI) in Accra, Ghana, reduced significantly during the November-March dry season, indicating increased drought trends from 1980 to 2014. North Africa (consisting of the Mediterranean and Sahara regions) recorded multiyear droughts that add stress to an already water-strained arid land, posing a great challenge to agriculture [20], forcing farmers to tap into groundwater to irrigate crops. Belhassan [20] reported more widespread, prolonged, and frequent droughts in Northern Africa in the recent four decades, attributing it to climate variability.…”

“…North Africa (consisting of the Mediterranean and Sahara regions) recorded multiyear droughts that add stress to an already water-strained arid land, posing a great challenge to agriculture [20], forcing farmers to tap into groundwater to irrigate crops. Belhassan [20] reported more widespread, prolonged, and frequent droughts in Northern Africa in the recent four decades, attributing it to climate variability.…”