Chapter 3
Water Resource Availability and Quality
in the North Africa Region Under
Climate Change
O. Mahjoub, M. T. Chaibi, and M. A. Shamseddin
Abstract Countries lie within the north of Sahara are the most African driest subregion, with an average annual rainfall ranging between 50 mm/year in the southern
part and 1000 mm/year in a few parts of the extreme Northwest. These conditions
result in limited and unevenly distributed water resources. In Northern African countries, people and economies are increasingly threatened by the progressive change
in climatic conditions over the past decades that has resulted in growing pressure
on freshwater resources. Climate change is regarded as an additional burden that
affects water resources of all related environments, like soil and ecological goods
and services. This chapter is meant to provide a clear picture of the status of water
resources and an assessment of progress made so far by Northern African countries in addressing the challenges related to the sustainable management of water
resources under climate change. It also reports on current and future trends of nonconventional water resource (re)use to preserve the environment and public health
from waterborne disease and to guarantee food security under variable climate conditions. Current and anticipated climate change policies and strategies are examined
together, accounting for national and regional strategies for mitigating impacts of
extreme events on water quality and pollution sources. Selected technical solutions
and research challenges that impact water resource development and management
in North Africa are discussed, accounting for current and future climate change and
variability.
Keywords Climate change · Water resources · North africa · Non-conventional
water · Quality
O. Mahjoub · M. T. Chaibi (B)
National Research Institute for Rural Engineering Water and Forestry, BP10, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia
e-mail: thameur.chaibi@gmail.com
O. Mahjoub
e-mail: olfama@gmail.com
M. A. Shamseddin
Water Management and Irrigation Institute, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan
e-mail: shams_id@yahoo.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
S. Diop et al. (eds.), Climate Change and Water Resources in Africa,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61225-2_3
29
Water Resource Availability and Quality
in the North Africa Region Under
Climate Change
O. Mahjoub, M. T. Chaibi, and M. A. Shamseddin
Abstract Countries lie within the north of Sahara are the most African driest subregion, with an average annual rainfall ranging between 50 mm/year in the southern
part and 1000 mm/year in a few parts of the extreme Northwest. These conditions
result in limited and unevenly distributed water resources. In Northern African countries, people and economies are increasingly threatened by the progressive change
in climatic conditions over the past decades that has resulted in growing pressure
on freshwater resources. Climate change is regarded as an additional burden that
affects water resources of all related environments, like soil and ecological goods
and services. This chapter is meant to provide a clear picture of the status of water
resources and an assessment of progress made so far by Northern African countries in addressing the challenges related to the sustainable management of water
resources under climate change. It also reports on current and future trends of nonconventional water resource (re)use to preserve the environment and public health
from waterborne disease and to guarantee food security under variable climate conditions. Current and anticipated climate change policies and strategies are examined
together, accounting for national and regional strategies for mitigating impacts of
extreme events on water quality and pollution sources. Selected technical solutions
and research challenges that impact water resource development and management
in North Africa are discussed, accounting for current and future climate change and
variability.
Keywords Climate change · Water resources · North africa · Non-conventional
water · Quality
O. Mahjoub · M. T. Chaibi (B)
National Research Institute for Rural Engineering Water and Forestry, BP10, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia
e-mail: thameur.chaibi@gmail.com
O. Mahjoub
e-mail: olfama@gmail.com
M. A. Shamseddin
Water Management and Irrigation Institute, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan
e-mail: shams_id@yahoo.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
S. Diop et al. (eds.), Climate Change and Water Resources in Africa,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61225-2_3
29