Management of Transboundary Aquifers of Kuwait: A Cooperative Approach

[Management of Transboundary Aquifers of Kuwait: A Cooperative Approach]

In the arid environment of Kuwait where there is no surface water, usable groundwater resource is limited, and the country mainly depends on the seawater desalination for its freshwater need, judicious management of the available groundwater resource is imperative for the well-being of the country. It is important to recognize in this context that the Dammam Limestone Formation and Kuwait Group, the two aquifers exploited in Kuwait, are "transboundary" in nature (i.e., they extend beyond the international boundary of the country) and are present in the other adjacent countries of the Arabian Peninsula. Kuwait is making every effort to manage these aquifers sustainably and protect them from environmental pollution. However, with the increasing demand for water that has led to the over exploitation of the groundwater resources in all the ‘aquifer states’ that share these aquifers, development of a cooperative groundwater management plan will be beneficial for all the stakeholders concerned. Advantage of the newly adopted draft "Law of Transboundary Aquifers" by the General Assembly of the United Nations that emphasizes on such cooperation for the greater benefits of all concerned, may be taken to formulate and execute such a plan in not too distant a future.

UNESCO-IAH-UNEP

Language: Inglés

Format: PDF

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