The Sharing of Flood Waters in the Ksours of Ghardaia and Berriane (Algeria) Hydraulic Study

Abstract

The present article deals with two systems of sharing flood waters used in the oases of Ghardaïa and Berriane. Based on bibliographic work, and data collection and investigations performed during the period between 2006 and 2018 near the Ksourian population as the floods are the only source of water for both oases. Ancestral hydraulic systems of sharing and regularizing floods were implemented in both oases. Each hydraulic system is composed of several hydraulic structures (e.g. dams, spillways, galleries, wells) that have been designed taking into considerations the geomorphology and topography of the region. This study compares the two systems and proves that although built 7 centuries ago, both the systems were built with intelligence. They have become parts of the national heritage and must be preserved for future generations.

Traditional water supply systems at lack of water regions and their modern situation (cases of M’zab Valley, Algeria and Miyakojima Island, Japan)

“…Later, a commission called the trustees Al'umana was formed to monitor and divide the torrents and maintain their facilities in view of the fact that water is rare, and the difficulty of obtaining it in the M'zab area [1][2][3].…”

“…Inside the palm grove, the distribution of the water is promoted by an earthen network of seguia of variant dimensions (figure 4, figure 5, figure 6, figure 7, figure 8). When the palms are flooded, the surplus water flows through openings in the walls then directed automatically to the various dams, which in turn feed the layer of groundwater for later use by irrigation wells scattered in an oasis, and the excess of that water is automatically directed into the stream of the valley [1,2,[6][7][8].…”

An Ingenious Heritage System for Collecting and Distributing Flood Water in the M’zab Valley of Algeria

“…The width of an opening is different from one garden to another depending on several parameters: the distance of the garden from the arrival of the underground canal, the surface of the garden and the number of palm trees. When the garden is flooded, excess water flows into the M'zab Valley (Khelifa and Remini 2019). This foggara system of floodwater sharing, mainly composed of dams, dykes, gullies and underground canals, is characterized by very high precision, allowing a rational use and an equal distribution of water.…”

Flood Analysis and Mitigation Strategies in Algeria

“…It is a very ingenious hydraulic system based on the principle of full and fair exploitation of rain water and its accurate distribution in all oasis groves. It also includes towers and installations that enable permanent monitoring of floods to prevent flood hazards (Ali Taleb and Souad 2020; Benmamar et al 2016;Khelifa and Remini 2019).…”