How sustainable are current water sources—including alternatives such as desalination, wastewater reuse, and groundwater—for supporting irrigated agriculture in semi-arid and arid regions?
Over 80% of water use in semi-arid and arid regions is allocated to agricultural irrigation, making the sustainability of water sources in these areas a critical concern. The key trade-offs and long-term implications of relying on alternative waters sources are not fully understood.
Agriculture
Ecology
Exposure assessment
Hydrology
Soil science
Simon@
The sustainability of current water sources, such as desalination, wastewater reuse and groundwater management for irrigation in semi-arid and arid regions, depends largely on the local conditions, on the level of local available technology and also on the local management practices. In the arid areas, for example, groundwater is frequently overexploited, which can lead to an unsustainable use in the long term, especially in the absence of strict regulations and effective aquifer recharge policies and regulations. The desalination process offers a climate-resilient solution, but it involves high energy costs and is usually impractical for large scale agriculture due to its high cost. The use of wastewater is considered one of the most sustainable options, providing a constant and nutrient-rich source. However, this solution requires advanced water treatment technologies and also needs a high level of public acceptance. On the other hand, surface water, which is reported as one of the most widely used sources for irrigation, is becoming increasingly unreliable due to the overallocation of resources and also to the pressure from climate change.
El Mokhtar El Hafidi