The document discusses the challenges and responses to water scarcity in the ESCWA region, with a focus on non-conventional water resources (NCWR) such as desalination and treated wastewater reuse. Given the severe water shortages in Arab countries, various measures are being adopted, including cloud seeding and water harvesting techniques. The document emphasizes the importance of regional collaboration for improving water management practices and developing monitoring frameworks to ensure effective water supply and sanitation services.

1. Best Practices and Experiences
in NCWRM in the ESCWA Region
Carol Chouchani Cherfane
Chief, Water Resources Section
Sustainable Development and Productivity Division

2. CONDITIONS LEADING TO NCWR
USE
Water Scarcity: Renewable Water Resources in Arab Countries per
Most Arab countries capita
(including ESCWA Threatens
countries) are
Water Security
among the most
water scarce
countries in world
having less than
1,000 m3 of
renewable water
resources per capita
per year.
Population
Growth: Arab
population grew
from 173 million
(1980) to 352.2
million (2009);
ESCWA 253 million
(2009) represents
72% of Arab
population Source: ESCWA regional chapter to forthcoming World Water Development Report 4

3. NCWR USE IN ESCWA REGION
ESCWA countries have responded to water constraints by turning
to non-conventional water resources to varied degrees.
Extent of use depends upon what is defined as a NCWR.
FAO/AQUASTAT defines NCWR as (1) desalinated water; (2)
adequately treated domestic or industrial waste water; or (3)
agricultural drainage water, although other NCWR emerging.
Treated Agricultural
Desalination Wastewater Drainage
Reuse Water
Water Cloud Coastal
Harvesting Seeding Springs
3

4. DESALINATION
Desalination and Treated Wastewater Reuse in selected ESCWA
countries
Source: FAO, AQUASTAT. Treated wastewater date for Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE is from
the year 2006, 2002, and 2006 respectively.
Desalination much more extensive than treated wastewater reuse
in Gulf, though current and comparable data difficult to secure.

5. DESALINATION: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
COUNTRIES
Desalination types, mix & trends vary between ESCWA countries:
Reverse osmosis (RO): Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine (80-100%)
Multi-stage flash (MSF): Kuwait (82%); Qatar (62%); KSA (46%)
Multi-effect distillation (MED): KSA (10%); Qatar (16%); Kuwait (0%)
Other: 10%
for
Major desalination plants in the Gulf sub-region 2008
Feed water
also varies in
source & mix,
though largely
seawater
(83%);
brackish water
(10%);
wastewater
(2%)
Source: ESCWA Water Development Report 3, p.8, Figure 8

6. DESALINATION: EXPERIENCE FROM THE FIELD
Desalination as a industry – and promotion as green industry?
• Desalination capacity of Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounts for over 30% of
global desalinated freshwater production.
• Desalination increasing in Egypt due to real estate and tourism expansion.
• GCC examining desal as an industry: R&D, O&M, training, jobs, exports
• Not better than fossil groundwater extraction?
Water-Energy
Examining the full cost of Desalination
Linkages
• Energy rich v/s Energy
poor endowments
cause difference
• Solar options being
explored, but not well
developed: KSA, UAE
• Transfer/transmission
costs need to be
considered
• Environmental
externalities (CO2 Source: ESCWA Water Development Report 3 (2009)
emissions)

7. DESALINATION: EXPERIENCE FROM THE FIELD
Overcapacity: leading to non-conventional water resources
management practices; inefficiencies and waste prevail.
Water-Energy
Co-generation New Option:
Plants Managed Aquifer
Recharge
Desalination (Bahrain)
Over capacity in
Water Security: GCC counties
Increase
Reducing Risks
Household
Storage Capacity
(Bahrain, Qatar,
Water Security: Yemen)
Planning for
future growth Despite over capacity, bottled water
(population & consumption in GCC very high.
economic) Salinity, quality transferred through
transmission networks not trusted by consumers

8. MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE: STORAGE &
SUSTAINABILITY
Bahrain
– The Government of Bahrain considers to implement Managed
Aquifer Recharge (MAR) schemes in Damman Aquifer to increase
freshwater resources availability in times of emergency, and to
lower the salinity of the groundwater in some places.
– This aims to make best use of treated sewage effluent, short-
term/seasonal surpluses, water from desalination plants and storm
water runoff.
– First national technical consultation
meeting was held in October 2010
where all major stakeholders of MAR
participated.
– Being supported through ESCWA
Regional Advisory Services

9. TREATED WASTEWATER REUSE
Treated wastewater have increased in some ESCWA countries,
but quantification remains difficult so trend analysis should be
viewed with caution.
Wastewater Treated Volume of selected ESCWA countries
9
Source: FAO, AQUASTAT

10. TREATED WASTEWATER REUSE - TYPES
Varied uses in the ESCWA Region:
Irrigation – for agriculture
Greenification – for green belts and to combat desertification
Common in GCC and Egypt
Cooling and reuse – Bahrain Airport reusing treated grey
water for cooling, greenification at airport; under
consideration for shopping mall as well
Managed Aquifer Recharge – being explored, for storage for
alternative uses sources to be served through pumping, but
also in coastal aquifers to reduce saltwater intrusion.
NCWR and TWR referenced in
Arab Water Security Strategy
officially adopted in June 2011

11. TREATED WASTEWATER REUSE:
LESSONS
Food security and food safety
Concern by farmers and domestic consumers; Awareness raising needed
Regulatory regime and infrastructure needed to ensure confidence
Trade barriers: sanitary & phytosanitary measures on agricultural exports
Testing by mutually accredited/recognized labs helping to overcome barriers
Issues emerged between ESCWA countries on this issue, but have been
overcome recently based on increased treated wastewater reuse and testing
capacity.
Development Planning: Locating new wastewater treatment plans now
being considered within development strategies and plans
Lebanon: Looking to install at least 3 wastewater treatment plants in
Keserouan (mountainous areas that drains into Beirut water supply source):
becomes question of groundwater contamination concerns if wastewater
treatment failures occur (or insufficient demand captured)
UAE/Abu Dhabi: Using TWR as means to create communities in the desert
(Viola plant)
Bahrain: Proximity between treatment plans and user is ‘far’, thus transfer of
treated wastewater for reuse needs to be balanced with other options or goals.

12. AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF REUSE
Not so ‘non-conventional’ in water scarce regions
Part of FAO/AQUASTAT reporting on NCWR
Challenges
Pesticide and nitrate concentrations
Washing in and mixing with other wastewater streams
Poor quality has implications for downstream users – both within a country
and between countries
Regional Experience
Egypt: Agricultural runoff reuse for agriculture and fisheries – some
resulting problems for food safety related to fisheries industry affecting
consumer health and exports
Turkey-Syria: Agricultural runoff from Turkey into Syria part of ‘shared
water resources management’ challenge: quality as well as the quantity of
this agricultural run off affects agricultural sector in Northern Syria
negatively. (ESCWA-BGR pilot project)

13. CLOUD SEEDING: WEATHER
MODIFICATION
Cloud seeding programs in the region –Jordan, Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, and UAE (ESCWA countries) +
Algeria, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco (Non-ESCWA
countries)
The beginning years of cloud seeding in Arab countries
Country Starting Year Notes
Algeria 1952
Non-ESCWA Arab
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1971
Countries
Morocco 1983
Jordan 1986
Iraq 1989
Saudi Arabia 1990 ESCWA Countries
Syrian Arab Republic 1991
UAE 2000
Source: Al-Fenadi, n.d., Cloud seeding experiments in Arab Countries: History and Result, p.2. Table 2

14. CLOUD SEEDING: EXPERIENCE
UAE
– Government of UAE (Department of Atmospheric Studies) has
implemented a program introducing cloud seeding in the UAE.
– In May 2008, it is reported that a thunderstorm was produced as a result of
cloud seeding test.
– In 2010 summer, it is reported that 50 rain storms were created by cloud
seeding project in the Abu Dhabi desert.
In light of increasing
investments in this area
(China included), this is
introducing a new legal
transboundary
management issue:
Who owns the clouds?

15. WATER HARVESTING: RAINWATER
COLLECTION
Water Harvesting has been done since ancient times – again not
so ‘non-conventional’
Palestine – rainwater collection is common practice.
Oman – water harvesting is being used for groundwater recharge.
Sudan – water harvesting has been made a national priority.
The Government decided to upgrade the former Dams Implementation Unit
in the Ministry of Electricity and Dams, and provided additional funding
for the construction of water harvesting infrastructure.
Supported by ESCWA Regional Advisory Services
New Government
remains interested

16. WATER HARVESTING: FOG COLLECTION
Some ESCWA countries also studying fog collection
technologies and options.
Yemen
– 26 standard fog collectors (1 m2) were installed in 2002 and 2003.
– The best average daily production was 4.5 litres/m2 over winter period.
– Subsequently, 25 large fog collectors (40 m2) were constructed in 2004,
which provides 4,500 litres of drinking water per day during the dry
winter season.
Saudi Arabia
– 3 standard fog collectors were installed in Asir region, and the best
average daily water production of 11.5 litre/m2 was obtained during winter
period(November to January).
– This indicates that fog collection can be a meaningful source of water
supply in Asir region of Saudi Arabia.
However, weather modification and fog collection need to be
further examined, with improved monitoring and reporting on
outcomes.

17. COASTAL FRESHWATER SPRINGS
ESCWA region’s extensive coastline make this an issue to
consider in various member countries, including Lebanon and
Bahrain, but still at early stages of exploration / exploitation.
Challenges:
Studies have been undertaken, but further research needed
Remote sensing and GIS being used to support mapping of these
freshwater resources originating from groundwater resources and coastal
aquifers
Significant resources seem available in Med and other regional seas
Implications for Biodiversity: if consumed, how does that affect sea
salinity? Could it impact the biodiversity mix and coastal fisheries?
Transboundary issue
As freshwater becomes increasing scare, could introduce territorial
conflicts such as those evidenced by off-sea oil and gas reserves
Is there an UNCLOS agreement for freshwater resources in our future?

18. NEXT STEPS:
INTER/INTRA-REGIONAL EXCHANGES
Evident experience in region on use of different NCWRs
Opportunities for inter/intra regional exchange: intra-ESCWA;
intra-Arab; inter-Arab/ESCWA and Med countries
Desalination Industry Experience and the GCC
GCC interested in increased exchange and expansion of
knowledge and technical experience on desalination
Water Harvesting and Benefiting from Local Best Practices
Field study exchanges currently under preparation between
Sudan and Oman.
Most certainly opportunities exist between other countries as
well

19. NEXT STEPS:
MDG+ INITIATIVE
“Establishing a Regional Mechanism for Improved
Monitoring and Reporting on Access to Water
Supply and Sanitation Services in the Arab Region”
(MDG+ Initiative)
Endorsed by LAS Arab Ministerial Water Council to set up
regional specific indicators for monitoring and reporting on
water supply and sanitation. NCWR integral part of
regional initiative
First Ministerial Session (Algiers, 2009) – requested ESCWA to
establish regional mechanism for monitoring/reporting on regional
specific WSS indicators in partnership with ACWUA, CEDARE,
AWC and RAED
MDG+ Indicators formulated by ESCWA and finalized in
consultation with partners, WHO and Arab Governments and
endorsed by AMWC
Template/questionnaire prepared and endorsed by Arab Summit
(January 2011) as part of Arab regional input to MDG follow-up

20. NEXT STEPS:
MDG+ INITIATIVE
MDG+ Indicators
Water Supply Sanitation
• Water consumption • Treated quantity
• Continuity of supply • Treatment type
• Water quality • Reuse utilization
• Distance to source • Reuse type
• Tariff structure • Tariff structure
• Affordability • Affordability
Purpose is to consider not only accessibility to improved
infrastructure, but also reliability, regularity, affordability,
sustainability and quality of service provided.
Differentiates between conventional/non-conventional
sources: Supply: rainwater harvesting; Sanitation:
raw/treated reuse
These are particularly important issues to consider in water
scarce environments and developing countries.

21. NEXT STEPS:
MDG+ INITIATIVE
Objectives and outcomes:
Will create regional knowledge base on these indicators
Will support regional dialogue and priority-setting on these
issues,
Will support national water planning, as will help to
mainstream NCRW in national water planning decisions
targeting water supply and sanitation
Set up supported by National Monitoring Teams that
would also create awareness, trust and support for these
indicators that link water ministries with utilities and other
key actors (health, statistics, planning, etc).
Advisory Board provides technical backstopping:
ESCWA, ACWUA, CEDARE, AWC, RAED, WHO and
LAS Secretariat

22. Thank you!
Carol Chouchani Cherfane
Chief, Water Resources Section
Sustainable Development and Productivity Division
UN-ESCWA
Tel: +961 1 978 518
Fax: +961 1 981 510
Email: chouchanicherfane@un.org
Web: www.escwa.un.org