Water
Plan Bleu activities Water is priority issues of sustainable development in the Mediterranean region that the Plan Bleu, in its quality of prospective centre and Mediterranean observatory of the Environment and Development of UNEP/ Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), took into account since its creation. More information… As presented in the Plan Bleu Strategic Intervention Framework for 2007-2015, the water sector activities (concerning data, indicators, studies and communication) are willing to focus on the improvement of the integrated water resources and demand management in the Mediterranean. More information about : the Strategic Intervention Framework for 2007-2015 in the water sector... More information about : 3rd Regional Workshop on water demand management in the Mediterranean, Zaragoza, 19-21 March 2007 The activities planned for 2008-2009 focus particularly on:
More information about : the 2008-2009 activity programme Observation: 20 million Mediterranean people without access In the Mediterranean, water resources are limited, fragile and very unevenly distributed over space and time. During the second half of the 20th century, water demand has increased twofold, reaching 280 km 3/year in all rim countries in 2005. Agriculture is the main water-consuming sector and accounts for 64 % of total water demand: 45 % in the North and 82% in the South and East. In numerous Mediterranean countries, water use is approaching the limit level of available resources. Momentary or structural water shortages have been observed. The number of water poor Mediterranean populations, living in countries with less than 1000 m3/capita /year, reaches 180 million inhabitants, 60 million of whom face shortage conditions with less than 500 m3/capita/year. Twenty million Mediterranean people are still deprived of access to drinking water, particularly in the South and East. Water supply in several Mediterranean countries is endangered by both the over-exploitation of a part of the renewable underground water (generating salt-water intrusion, which makes the water unusable) and the exploitation of non-renewable resources (including fossil water). Thus, « unsustainable » water production is estimated at 16 km3/year, of which 66 % coming from fossil water withdrawals and 34 % from over-exploitation of renewable water. In addition to the stress on natural water resources, man-induced degradations and pollution also impact the water regime and quality, thus further limiting the possibilities of use. Such situations increase:
The foreseeable future: growing pressures on water resources Pressures on water resources will increase significantly in the South and East, and it is expected that, by 2025, 80 million Mediterranean people will face shortage conditions (with less than 500 m3/capita/year) . The increase in water demand for agriculture and for urban use and the scarcity of resources signify that one out of every three Mediterranean countries will withdraw over 50 % of the annual volume of its renewable natural resources . The changes in temperature and rainfall described by the climatic models will further aggravate these trends, and the Mediterranean regions will find themselves particularly exposed to a reduction in their water resources. Development along these lines could give rise to acute crisis situations in some countries. In the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, given the demographic growth, the population of the countries which would face water shortage in 2050 has been estimated at 290 million people. The percentage of unsustainable water supplies derived from fossil sources or from over-exploitation will grow. The rise in the demand for water will be steepest in the least water-rich countries, which will then be exposed to structural shortages. Under these circumstances, some fossil resources will rapidly be depleted and coastal aquifers further destroyed by salt-water intrusion. Moreover the silting up of water retained in dams limits their lifespan (e.g. dams in Algeria have lost a quarter of their original capacity), and there are fewer and fewer sites on which to build new dams. Growing quantities of industrial and urban waste and reduced run-off resulting from increased extractions will also affect the quality of water and aquatic systems. It is likely that wetlands will continue to retract. These elements further aggravate the factors leading to increasing water vulnerability (costs, health and conflicts) . Alternatives: managing water demand, and not only the Observations and the prospective have shown that increasing the supply, which has been the traditional response in Mediterranean water policies, is now reaching its limits. In response to this situation, water-demand management can lead to major progress by limiting losses and inappropriate use (waste , leaks exceeding 50 % in some towns ) and by ensuring more efficient use of the resource . There is considerable room for progress since improved water demand management would make it possible to save 25% of water demand, i.e. approximately 85 km3/year in 2025. Irrigated agriculture represents the largest potential for volume savings, with nearly 65% of total water potential savings identified in the Mediterranean (transport losses reduced by 50%, down to 10 %, irrigation water efficiency increased from 60 % to 80 %). A further 22 % in water savings potential can be expected from industry (recycling rate up to 50 %), and another 13 % from drinking water supply (transport losses and household leaks reduced by 50 %, respectively down to 15 % and 10 %). According to this optimistic view, assumed to be generalized throughout the Mediterranean countries, total water demand would level off at 102 km 3/year in the North and at 144 km3/year in the South and Middle East, globally equivalent to the drop in total current demand of approximately 40 km3/year . The benefits could also be seen in energy savings. These objectives are “win-win”, when compared with traditional supply side approaches. They limit environmental impacts, risks of conflicts and the costs of access to water, and generate regional potential for economic growth and stability. For more information:
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EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICES Tunisia has implemented a national water-saving strategy for irrigation, which includes the creation of user associations, pricing aimed at progressive cost recovery, targeted financial instruments for water-efficient farming equipment, and support to farmer revenues. Since 1996, this policy has stabilized irrigation water demand despite agricultural development, and the needs of both the tourism sector (a source of foreign currency) and cities (a source of social stability) have been assured. In Morocco, increasing water demand in Rabat-Casablanca has been slowed down noticeably during the past fifteen years despite high urban growth. Improved water management (reduction of leaks, progressive pricing, systematic metering, major public awareness campaign) has deferred or perhaps completely avoided some costly investments (dams, transfer canals) initially planned in the 1980 Master Plan, while satisfying the needs. These investments, which are difficult to finance without extra debts, may prove to be unnecessary in the long term. Sources : Plan Bleu, Hamdane, Fiuggi 2002 et DGH Rabat, 2002.
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