SUMMARY OF ISSUES AND POLICY MEASURES IN THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES, AS PRESENTED IN THE COUNTRY CASE STUDIES

CYPRUS

Principal issues:

• supply-demand imbalance;
• groundwater pollution from agrochemicals;
• high cost of new supplies;
• conflict and competition between users; and
• inefficient water use, which is inappropriate for the extreme, water scarce situation in municipal supplies, with over-application even with improved irrigation systems.

Policy measures:

• water pricing;
• re-use of municipal wastewater;
• desalination of sea water;
• improved water efficiency and reduced losses;
• modification of cropping patterns;
• protection of water quality; and
• control and restriction of reclamation of new irrigation area.

LIBYA

Principal issues:

• supply-demand imbalance;
• standard of service;
• economic importance;
• water quality and salinity deterioration;
• inefficiency of use; and
• structural and institutional.

Policy measures and strategic options:

• development of non-conventional water resources;
• adjustment of agricultural policy;
• restriction of groundwater abstractions;
• legislative action and institutional development;
• interbasin transfers; and
• capacity building through human resources development and higher education.

Measures:

• improved water use efficiency at farm level;
• improved water distribution, including measurements and billing;
• full recovery of groundwater pumping costs;
• change of farm structures and state agricultural programme;
• enforcement of water legislation;
• establishment of an independent water authority; and
• expanded desalination, and treatment and re-use of municipal wastewater.

OMAN

Principal issues:

• supply-demand imbalance;
• conflict between water users;
• inefficient water use;
• conflicting interests in catchments (gravel quarrying, siltation of reservoirs);
• groundwater pollution and soil salinization; and
• quality of services.

Policy measures:

• well permits;
• protection of wellfields and aflajs
• well inventory;
• identification of new water resources;
• supply enhancement (recharge and retention dams); and
• water master planning.

PAKISTAN

Principal issues

• environmental degradation (waterlogging and salinity);
• inefficient use of water;
• inequitable distribution (‘tail-ender’ problem); and
• imbalance between crop requirements and water supply.

Policy options and measures:

• development of comprehensive water resources management strategy;
• restrict government intervention, for functioning of the market and enhanced private participation;
• establish an enabling environment to optimize water use for crop production;
• encourage private sector participation in irrigation investment;
• more emphasis on demand management;
• reduced canal losses; and
• improved training and extension of farmers.

SAUDI ARABIA

Principal issues:

• lack of the accurate data on water supply and demand needed for planning purposes;
• output and input price policies;
• property and water rights; and
• optimal allocation.

Policy measures:

• reduced agricultural subsidies;
• privatization of municipal water supplies;
• establishment of a Ministry of Water;
• update hydrological survey; and
• produce national master water plan.

SUDAN

Principal issues:

• water stress with conflicting demands;
• agriculture is dominant water user;
• environmental issues;
• siltation in reservoirs and canals;
• floods and drought spells;
• hydro-power demand; and
• international dimension and cooperation.

Policy measures:

• institutional reform involving MOIWR, NCWR and TWRO;
• water O&M responsibilities transferred to a public corporation and user’ associations;
• a mixed policy of supply and demand management;
• new water resources act (1996) and review of previous legislation; and
• continuous review and updating of water policy.

TUNISIA

Principal issues:

• increasing water scarcity;
• impact of droughts;
• soil erosion; and
• water pollution.

Policy measures:

• adoption of the goal of preservation of the natural resource base for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Programmes:

• supply enhancement;
• improved water use efficiency; and
• water conservation and protection.

Strategic options:

• water resources planning;
• mobilization of water resources (infrastructure development);
• development of non-conventional water resources sources (re-use; aquifer recharge); and
• improved water management (participation of the private sector; water economics).

Administrative policy:

• legal and institutional: modernization of water legislation; water use administration; monitoring; decision-support tools; protection of infrastructure and groundwater; improved water efficiency; and

• economic and financial: investment programme.

YEMEN

Principal issues:

• groundwater mining;
• depletion of major aquifers;
• deterioration of groundwater quality;
• inefficient use;
• growing conflicts among users; and
• rising costs for new supplies.

Water supply shortage:

• supply-demand imbalance; and
• limited level and poor quality.

Policy measures:

• establishment of authorized oversight bodies;
• water resources assessment;
• strategy definition;
• increase water price;
• national debate;
• kat programme;
• regional planning;
• regional water management plans;
• water conservation in agriculture;
• urban supplies and water markets;
• community partnership, self-monitoring; and
• development of legislation.

AOAD

AOAD referred to the Cairo Declaration of Arab Cooperation Principles Regarding Use, Development and Protection of Arab Water Resources.