The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (Abu Dhabi Environment Agency) revealed that the groundwater reserves in the Emirate are 600 billion cubic meters and are divided into 3% fresh water (18 billion cubic meters) and 97% semi-saline and saline, 53% semi-saline, , Estimated at 318 billion cubic meters, and 44% of unsustainable saline water estimated at 264 billion cubic meters. It will launch the Abu Dhabi groundwater atlas, with maps and images that determine the location and current state of groundwater wells in the emirate, At the regional level, on the sidelines of its participation in the twelfth session of the World Summit Of Future Energy 2019.
In its pavilion at the World Energy Summit, the Commission reviewed the results of the Groundwater Assessment Initiative through the Water Wells Survey and Soil Soil Survey in Abu Dhabi Emirate, which was implemented from 2015 to 2018, and contributed dozens of experts, engineers, statisticians and technicians to Wells, and documented their data, pointing out that the water budget of groundwater in the Emirate, showed that the quantities of groundwater, which are withdrawn annually is 2.2 billion cubic meters, and the annual recharge amounts of various sources of groundwater resources 837 million cubic meters, Annual in Makhz N water of 1.3 billion cubic meters, as a result of large withdrawals, where agriculture and forestry constitute the largest components of water consumption in the emirate, where agriculture consumes 1.756 billion cubic meters per year, Lori forests 248 million cubic meters.
In addition, the field survey teams analyzed soil on farms and forests in order to study the effect of water salinity. Irrigation in soil quality, noting that urban development and the development of drilling techniques led to the unsustainable use of groundwater, noting that groundwater is now being extracted at rates higher than natural recharge rates.
According to the authority, the results of the groundwater assessment initiative have collected more than 1 million data units. 117,859 wells, of which 53 thousand and 281 produced wells, were compared with 11,624 abandoned, 53,314 unused for technical reasons and obstacles, The results indicated that groundwater is 65% of Abu Dhabi's water consumption and that 95% of the groundwater is used for irrigation, which constitutes a danger to the water supply. Subterranean, threatening to be depleted within 50 years.
The Commission noted that it surveyed 4,000 farms within 24 months and collected 16,000 soil samples, which were taken using hand-drilling machines and carried out laboratory and field tests to measure soil salinity, showing that 80% of the agricultural land in the country is affected by salinity, which is not insignificant , Pointing out that 80% of the wells are used on farms, 7% in forests, 7% in wells, 2% in nests, and 1% in other uses.
Inventory of wells
The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) has confirmed that the groundwater wells project in the Emirate, which is used in all sectors such as agriculture, forestry, recreational activities and any other purpose, aims to limit these wells and contribute to the conservation of groundwater from waste and the rationalization of its uses. , To ensure its sustainability for future generations, and to maintain government and private investments, which rely on groundwater as a water source. The information to be collected through this initiative will help stakeholders develop plans for the integrated management of groundwater resources, help farm owners reduce waste of financial resources used to drill unprocessed wells, increase the efficiency of their farms and maximize the use of groundwater Irrigation.
600
Billion cubic meters, the size of groundwater reserves in Abu Dhabi.