A LEADING expert has warned of increased flooding, infrastructural damages, and increased maintenance costs due to the threat of rising groundwater levels in urban areas.
Water Sciences and Technology Association (WSTA) chairman and Arabian Gulf University (AGU) professor of water resources management Dr Waleed Zubari has warned of negative consequences should the authorities fail to address this pressing issue.
He will be speaking at a symposium on the matter, being organised by the WSTA in co-operation with Qatar’s Public Works Authority.
The conference, “The Problem of Rising Groundwater in Urban Areas in GCC Countries”, will be held on September 17 at the Hilton Doha Hotel in Qatar.
“The conference’s aim is to come up with recommendations and propose policies and practical solutions to control rising groundwater levels in urban areas in the GCC,” said Dr Zubari.
“We will also share scientific knowledge and building capacities in the field of urban planning, hydrology, engineering, environment, and more.
“There are shallow, impermeable, geological layers that prevent water from leaking into the ground.
“On top of that, leakages from municipal drainage networks, domestic irrigation, and landscaping waters, all play a part.”
Dr Zubari added that, if left unchecked, this phenomena could end up with several negative consequences that can affect people and the environment.
“Water leakage in buildings and basements threaten the structural integrity of the infrastructure, which could lead to damages, increased maintenance costs, and threatens the safety of people living in and around it,” he said.
“Rising water tables contribute to increased flooding, especially in urban areas when it rains, making stormwater management even more challenging.
“This is a critical issue, and addressing this problem requires a collaborative effort between experts from different sectors.
“Therefore, we need to come up with practical strategies to mitigate the effects, protect our urban environment and infrastructure and ensure a sustainable future for the region.”
The symposium will discuss eight studies and academic papers, with distinguished researchers from Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar invited to speak on them.
It will provide a platform for researchers, experts and practitioners to share the results of their studies and research related to rising groundwater levels, and contribute to a better understanding of the problem.
It will explore technological solutions such as groundwater monitoring systems, predictive modelling, water recycling, sustainable drainage and urban design, and more.
The GDN reported in June that officials were looking at ways to reduce seawater intrusion into Muharraq’s aquifers and increase its quality.
The Groundwater Well Comprehensive Inventory Initiative was addressed by the committee, which discussed methods for conducting groundwater well surveys, updating data, and ensuring wells are not violating regulations through field inventories.
In 2021, the GDN reported that groundwater seeping to the surface was posing a threat to homes and other infrastructure projects in the Northern Governorate, prompting calls for urgent action.
Groundwater rose to nearly 20cm to 30cm from the surface causing substantial damage in several neighbourhoods.
The second Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2023 in implementing the 2030 agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlights the National Water Strategy 2030 that was approved to ensure effective management and plans are in place to expand water production projects by 2027 that includes increasing reserves to more than 227,000 cubic metres per day from 114,000 for emergency use.
Bahrain was using 195pc of its renewable freshwater resources in 2000, however, the water stress level dropped to 156pc in 2021 which meant it managed to reduce a fifth of its freshwater withdrawals in two decades, stated the report.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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