This document discusses potential cooperation between the EU and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries - Oman, Bahrain, and the UAE - on subsurface water storage (SWS) technologies. All three countries face increasing salinization of coastal aquifers from seawater intrusion. Excess desalinated water and treated wastewater could be injected underground via aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) to increase water storage capacity and mitigate salinization. The countries expressed interest in SWS pilot projects, applied research, and capacity development assistance from the EU regarding regulatory standards and approval procedures. Joint research, capacity building activities, and funding options could enable cooperation on SWS applications to address coastal aquifer management challenges

1. SUBSOL
Potential Cooperation
with GCC Countries
Oman, Bahrain, UAE M. Gröschke, R. Klingbeil, K. Raat

2. 1 | Introduction | Oman | Bahrain | UAE | Summary | Lessons Learnt: Oman, Bahrain, UAE
• Addition to Deliverable 4.3 ‘Lessons learnt from trust building activities’
• Potential cooperation with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
– Oman
– Bahrain
– UAE
• Preparatory Desk Study
– National water situation
– Coastal aquifers, salinity
– Knowledge, experiences
– Capacity, Environment
• Mission 03-08 June 2018
– Review of desk study
– SWS opportunities
1
Lessons Learnt: Oman, Bahrain, UAE

3. 2 | Introduction | Oman | Bahrain | UAE | Summary | Lessons Learnt: Oman, Bahrain, UAE
• Increasing salinisation of coastal aquifers
• Potential target aquifer: Alluvial coastal aquifer
• Excess desalinated water: ASR to increase
water storage options in coastal aquifers
• Excess treated wastewater: ASR to increase
reuse and mitigation of seawater intrusion
• SWS opportunities
– Application of SWS technologies at pilot sites
– Applied research accompanying
implementation at pilot sites
– Improvement of national regulation,
water quality standards for injection
– Capacity development on EU experiences
for regulation and approval procedures
2
Sultanate of Oman

4. 3 | Introduction | Oman | Bahrain | UAE | Summary | Lessons Learnt: Oman, Bahrain, UAE
0
20
40
60
80
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Neogene Formation
+ Recent deposits
Alat Member
Orange Marl Member
Khobar Member
Sharks Tooth Shale M.
Rus Formation
Umm Er Radhuma
Formation
Geological Units
Dammam
Formation
metersbelowsealevel
(+anhydrite & shales)
A
B
C
Bahrain main island Sitra
island
A
A'
A A'
Limestone (Aquifer)
Underflow from Saudi
Arabia aquifers
Shale and marl (Aquitard)
Anhydrite (Aquitard)
• Increasing salinisation of island aquifers
• Potential target aquifer: Fractured limestone,
Dammam aquifer, Khobar (B) formation
• Excess treated wastewater: ASR to increase
reuse and mitigation of seawater intrusion
• SWS opportunities
– Suitability of SWS technologies
– Applied research accompanying
implementation at pilot sites
– Improvement of national regulation,
water quality standards for injection
– Capacity development on EU experiences
for regulation and approval procedures
3
Kingdom of Bahrain

5. 4 | Introduction | Oman | Bahrain | UAE | Summary | Lessons Learnt: Oman, Bahrain, UAE
• Increasing salinisation of inland and
coastal aquifers
• Potential target aquifer:
Alluvial coastal aquifers
• Excess desalinated water:
ASR to mitigate seawater intrusion,
develop additional subsurface storage
• SWS opportunities
– Application of SWS technologies at pilot sites
– Suitability of technologies for injection in
fresh water aquifers
– Applied research accompanying
implementation at pilot sites
4
United Arab Emirates (UAE)

6. 5 | Introduction | Oman | Bahrain | UAE | Summary | Lessons Learnt: Oman, Bahrain, UAE
• Oman, Bahrain & UAE showed strong interest
to develop cooperation with EU partners
• Increasing salinization of coastal and inland aquifers
• Excess desalinated water & excess treated wastewater
• Existing national plans to increase ASR
applications
• Existing enabling environment, institutional
capacity, suitable political environment
• Need for improved regulations, water quality
standards, approval procedures
• Joint research activities for ASR & SWS
applications
• Joint capacity development activities
• Suitable funding / co-funding options
5
Summary and Conclusions
The National, 2016: "Oasis Eco Resort in
the Liwa region to be world’s greenest"

7. SUBSOL
Potential Cooperation
with GCC Countries
Oman, Bahrain, UAE
We ♥ MAR
M. Gröschke, R. Klingbeil, K. Raat