Category Archives: Water

Nile – The Lifeline of Egypt

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The Nile always played a key role in the lives of Egyptians. It made living in the desert possible, provided drinking water; it was a source of irrigation and most importantly created fertile soil that allowed for growing crops to feed the masses. The Nile also offered an ideal means of transport for goods and people thus causing development of boats and other water traveling methods. During the course of history, using the Nile for trading with other countries proved easier and safer than land. The trip from northern to southern Egypt would have been very strenuous if it wasn’t … Continue reading →

The Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources in MENA

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Freshwater shortage in the MENA region is posing a serious threat to economic growth, social cohesion, peace and political stability. Furthermore, today’s freshwater usage does not account for its present and future availability but rather is based on sectoral and geographical competing consumption needs. To make matters worse, this already dire situation is being exacerbated by the rapidly changing climate. Climate change affects water resources by its profound impact on water quantity, variability, timing, form, and intensity of precipitation. The MENA region, in particular, is highly vulnerable to the disruptive climate change effects because countries within this region are unarguably … Continue reading →

Destruction of the Dead Sea

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Dead Sea is the lowest point on the planet and one of the most unique environments around the world. It lies on the borders of Jordan, the West Bank and Israel. Known for its high-density waters and mineral rich soils, the Dead Sea is visited by a large number of tourists from all over the world. Its soils contain minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and salt.These minerals are used in cosmetics, chemical products such as industrial salts and are even used in table salts for home use. State of the Affairs The once mineral-rich Dead Sea has shrunk to the … Continue reading →

النفايات البحرية

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بدأت قضية النفايات البحرية في وقتنا الحالي بإكتساب بعض الإهتمام بعد أن كانت قضية مهملة لفترة طويلة من الزمن. تتكون النفايات البحرية من خليط متنوع من المواد ذات المصادر المختلفة وعليه فإن استخدام طريقة واحدة للتعامل معها لا يوفر حلول فعالة لهذه القضية.من أبرز الأمثلة للمخلفات البحرية الأكثر شيوعاً: معدات الصيد سواء المتروكة أو المراد التخلص منها أو الضائعة من أصحابها، ومواد التعبئة والتغليف البلاستيكية (من زجاجات واغطية واكياس تسوق… الخ) بالإضافة لمواد التصنيع الأولية للبلاستك. إن تقيم الجدوى الاقتصادية للتعامل مع هذه القضية من خلال جمع هذه المواد من البحار للتخلص منها، مقارنة بكلفة منع إلقاء المخلفات في المقام … Continue reading →

Water Scarcity in Bahrain

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Bahrain is listed among the top ten countries that are likely to suffer from a water crisis in the next 25 years. The World Resources Institute (WRI) have estimated that 33 countries, half of which are in the Middle East, would suffer from a severe water crisis by 2040. According to the study that included 167 countries, the top ten countries that would face water crisis by 2040 are Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The finding shows that the Middle East is already probably the least water-secure region in the world as it … Continue reading →

The Unending Benefits of Wetlands

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Wetlands are wonderful for numerous reasons but these wonders weren’t always known to man and it was often common to overlook the importance of this distinct ecosystem. The mention of a wetland used to bring to mind images of murky, mosquito-riddled swamps or unused lands that needed to be developed into a space which would be more useful to humankind. Wetlands were grossly undervalued which led to loss of many and provoked the Convention on Wetlands to be signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The Ramsar Convention still serves as an international wetland conservation movement and currently holds over 160 nation … Continue reading →

فوائد لا تحصى للأراضي الرطبة

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لطالما أغفلنا روعة وأهمية الأراضي الرطبة بسبب جهلنا للميزات العديدة لهذا النظام البيئي. و لطالما استخدم مصطلح الأراضي الرطبة   للتعبير عن المستنقعات العكرة  المليئة بالبعوض أو الأراضي غير المستغلة التي تحتاج إلى بعض التحسينات لتكون أكثر إفادة للإنسان. و قد أدى هذا التقليل من شأن وأهمية الأراضي الرطبة إلى فقدان الكثير منها، الأمر الذي استلزم التوقيع على معاهدة الأراضي الرطبة في رامسار، في إيران عام 1971. ولا تزال تلك المعاهدة تعد بمثابة الحركة الدولية للمحافظة على الأراضي الرطبة، حيث تضم أكثر من 160 دولة موقعة. لقد وضح الراحل نيلسون مانديلا روعة التنوع البيولوجي الموجود في الأراضي الرطبة عندما ذكر منطقة … Continue reading →

Save Dead Sea from Extinction

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The news headlines read that the Dead Sea is dying so fast that it could totally disappear by the middle of this century. With the waters dying up, the exposed land is cracked and salt encrusted. Sinkholes are appearing as well and adding to the level of natural destruction. The rate of this process is being monitored by measuring the rate at which the water line is retreating. It is presently receding at the rate of one meter each year. The Dead Sea region is of great importance to three main religious groups: Jews, Muslims and Christians. The Dead Sea … Continue reading →

Water Resource Management in GCC – Issues and Challenges

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GCC countries are suffering from a huge deficit in their water resources reaching more than 20 billion cubic meter, being met mainly by an intensive over-drafting of renewable and non-renewable groundwater resources for the agricultural sector, and by the extensive installation of highly expensive desalination plants for the municipal sector, and by reusing a small percentage of treated wastewater in the agricultural and municipal sector. Furthermore, conflict between the agricultural and domestic sectors on the limited water resources in the region are rising, and as a result, groundwater over-exploitation and mining is expected to continue in order to meet growing … Continue reading →

حصاد مياه الأمطار: فيض من المنافع

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حصاد أو تجميع مياه الأمطار ليس بمفهوم جديد. ويعني ببساطة تجميع المياه في المناطق التي تتمتع بانهمار مطري متكرر ومنتظم حول العالم، حيث تخزن كميات المياه التي يتم تجميعها ليصار إلى استخدامها في وقت لاحق. عادة ما تجري المياه عبر أسطح المباني لتتجمع في خزانات مياه الأمطار. ويمارس هذا الأسلوب بشكل شائع في الأرياف للاستهلاك المحلي. كما يمكن تجميع المياه في السدود والخزانات لاستخدام المجتمعات على المدى البعيد. يمكن بسهولة جمع مياه الأمطار في المدن والضواحي، من خلال توجيه التدفق عبر المزاريب ومن ثم إلى أماكن التخزين، ويمكن تصميم هذا الأسلوب للاستخدام المنزلي وتوسيع نطاقه لتطبيقات أكبر مثل الصناعة والزراعة. … Continue reading →

Halobacterium – A Model of Life in the Dead Sea

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Biodiversity is one of the Earth’s greatest treasures that spellbound biologists for centuries. It is widely agreed that biodiversity is essential to increase appreciation for the value of biodiversity, since the ecosystems services, through biodiversity, play a fundamental tile in maintaining and enhancing the well being of the world, it is well-known that human health, wealth, security and culture are affected by any changes in the ecosystem. Still, additional research is required to understand the relationship between the ecosystem and biodiversity. Microorganisms can exist even in the most inhospitable habitats with extreme conditions. Despite their size, these unicellular organisms have … Continue reading →

The Role of Water Treatment in Environmental Sustainability

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Water scarcity is one of the largest threats facing humanity today due to constant water shortages being experienced all over the world. Only a small percentage of the world’s water (about 3%) is fit for human consumption with two percent of this amount present in glaciers and ice caps. The United Nations has given water due prominence by making it one of its millennium development goals. Such is the importance of water that governments have started developing new technologies and projects to cushion its effects on the world population. These initiatives include desalination, rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment and water location … Continue reading →