Page 84 - Module_5_en

Module
5 Because of the development of agriculture, which is by far the largest water user, the depletion

of fossil groundwater takes place at very high rates. It is expected that at the present rates of
abstraction, all reserves will be used within the next 25–30 years. The Ministry of Planning had

proposed a target to reduce annual irrigation water use from the current 15.3 km3 to 14.7 km3
9-12 December, 2013 ? ? Implementation of effective irrigation schedules at farm level to deliver irrigation water
by the year 2000. Measures to be taken were:

according to actual crop need, which is expected to result in a saving of water of at least
30 per cent;

Replacement of surface irrigation systems by sprinkler irrigation and micro-irrigation

Shifting some fodder and cereals areas from high to lower water consumption zones,
? systems;
and cultivation of crops with lower water requirements; and

? Introduction of water meters at farm level to control pumping of water.

Extensive pumping of groundwater has resulted in a significant drop in the groundwater level
(100 metres in the northwest in the last decade), requiring deeper and larger holes to be
drilled and a higher head for pumping, which results in a higher production cost. Groundwater
quality has deteriorated to the point where it can no longer be used for municipal supply
without expensive treatment. Furthermore, only half the groundwater reserves are located

near the areas of highest demand. Coastal areas suffer increasingly from sea water intrusion
into groundwater.

While Saudi Arabia is already by far the largest producer of desalinated water, future
development will have to depend even more on development of this source and on reuse

of treated wastewater. However, desalinated water is still too saline for agricultural use, the
problem of the rapid depletion of fossil water is still a long way from being solved.

82 Integrated Analysis of Environmental Trends and Policies