MEDA DATABASE ON TRANSBOUNBDARY AQUIFERS Version 1.0 2/07/07

(ESCWA-UNESCO-UNECA-UNECE)

QUESTIONNAIRE ON TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS IN THE MEDA REGION

Please complete using Word document format.

Please complete a separate questionnaire for each aquifer

Please return by e-mail to: al-mooji@un.org and R.Stephan@unesco.org with copies to: iganouli@civil.auth.gr and a.aureli@unesco.org, by 20th August 2007.

a) NAME OF THE TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFER, LOCATION & COUNTRIES

Please give the name(s) of the shared aquifer, its approximate location (province, department) and say which countries share it.

The North Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) located in Northern Africa shared between Algeria, Libya, Tunisia.

· AQUIFER PROPERTIES

2. 1 Please look at the four simplified pictures below and indicate which of them most closely characterises your transboundary aquifer. If none, pleae provide a conceptual sketch of your transboundary aquifer in the blank box below.

The first (1) case characterises most closely the transboundary aquifer.

2.2 General Characteristics

Aquifer type □ alluvial □ karstic □ crystalline □ other

Composed by two main deep aquifer layers : the continental intercalaire (CI) which is the deepest and the complexe terminal (CT).

Predominant lithology : sand, sandy clay, sandstone and limestone with argillaceous and gypsium interlayers............

Areal extent (km²). : 1 000 000 km².............. Population resident in this area : 4 millions; mainly agriculture

Thickness: mean (m). : 350............ maximum (m)..1500 .............

Shared international boundary length :

- Algeria with Tunisia :540 km;

- Libya with Tunisia: 250 km;

- Algeria with Libya: 300 km………………………

Dominant groundwater flow direction: from. Algeria (West). to.Tunisia and Libya (East)....(countries)

Link with surface water systems: □ strong □ medium □ weak

2.3 Map

Please provide a clear map of the transboundary aquifer, including aquifer boundaries and geographical coordinates. The map should preferably be supplied as a GIS-file

GIS file attached: extension_ci+ct.shp

(Lambert south Algeria Projection System, Clarc 1880)

2.4 Hydrogeological Characteristics and Groundwater Use

Rainfall: average annual and seasonal distribution: Multiannual average : 60 mm / year

Recharge / discharge area:

Level changes (m/yr) – natural, induced by pumping, or other reasons… : considerable level change during the year induced by pumping mainly in some abstraction zones.

Total available non- renewable groundwater reserves (Mm³/yr): 33 000 000…………

Total available annually renewable groundwater resources (Mm³/yr) : 1000…………

Total groundwater abstractions (Mm³/yr) (estimated where not measured) : 2500……………

Flow in/out across national boundary (Mm³/yr)………………………….

Groundwater flow direction and gradient across boundary… From Libya to Algeria = E-W ; From Libya to Tunisia = W-E; From Tunisia to Libya = NW-SE

Water uses (total, by sector, principal uses, current - estimated and future - projected)… Groundwater is mainly used for local agriculture, drinking water, municipal and industrial water supply.

Deficits and other resource concerns (e.g. quality, extremes, environmental degradation, interactions with surface water bodies / other aquifers)… The shallow aquifer (part of Complexe Terminal) is vulnerable to pollution due to agricultural fertilizers.

· MONITORING DATA

Please note that stakeholders should comply with the WMO Resolution 25 on international exchange of hydrological and related data. (http://www.wmo.ch/index-en.html). If appropriate insert Excel tables into the Word document in order to provide information and available data on quantity, quality and accessibility, including:

· Observation networks

Describe the type of monitoring systems (surveillance, operational, investigative) and present briefly its historical perspective (starting year, changes of equipment or institutions and any other general information)

· Maps, with available scales, GIS and remote sensing imagery

Provide maps showing the monitoring stations in GIS format and any other relevant remote sensing information

· Type of data and monitoring equipment

Give the list of parameters and substances you monitor for quantity, physico-chemical and biological conditions and the monitoring equipment and methodology you use.

· Data archives and their adequacy

Describe the chronology of the data and give your opinion about their reliability

· Institutions in charge

Names and addresses of national and international institutions responsible for monitoring

· Research centres

Same as above for research centres involved in monitoring

3.1 Quantity

· N^o. of monitoring stations: 2000

· Frequency of measurements: 1 or 2 times per year.

· Water levels: from 0 to 900 m.

Mean value and typical range

· Additional information

3.2 Quality

· N^o. of monitoring sites: 2000

· Frequency of measurements: 1 or 2 times per year

· Nitrogen compounds

· Salinity and major ions

· Heavy metals

· Pesticides

· Industrial organic compounds Mean values and typical ranges

4. IMPORTANCE OF TRANSBOUNDARY GROUNDWATERS

Uses and Functions

Does the groundwater in this transboundary aquifer have direct uses and/or other functions?

No Why not? Irrelevant groundwater resource

Problems with groundwater

(if yes, indicate these in section 5)

or:

Yes Uses Shared Aquifer Groundwater as % of total water use in the area 60%

Total Shared Groundwater as % of total water use in the country : Algeria: 60%; Tunisia : 20%; Libya : 20%;

Total Groundwater as % of total water use in the country : Algeria: 70%; Tunisia : 60%; Libya : 95%;

Other functions Support of ecosystems

Support of agriculture

(directly from shallow water table)

Preventing land subsidence

Maintaining baseflow and springs

Seasonal heatstorage

Any other function

(please specify) Drinking water supply is completely from groundwater sources

Groundwater abstraction and use in the aquifer

Indicate in the table the percentage of total groundwater abstraction accounted for by each use

Type of use	Percentage	If you do not know the exact percentage, than mark one of the following options
Type of use	Percentage	< 25 %	25 – 50 %	50 – 75 %	> 75 %
Drinking water				+
Irrigation				+
Industry		+
Mining		+
Thermal spa
Livestock		+
Other (please specify)

Please indicate the year to which these figures apply....: 2006............

5. WHICH PROBLEMS ARE OBSERVED IN TRANSBOUNDARY GROUNDWATERS?

5.1 Problems related to groundwater quantity

a) Specify if possible the average trend of groundwater level decline (m/year) : ..1 - 2.........

b) Indicate in the table the type and scale of problem associated with groundwater abstraction from the aquifer

Problem	Increasing scale of problem
Problem	1. Local and moderate	2. Local but severe	3. Widespread but moderate	4. Widespread and severe
Increased pumping lifts or costs				+
Reduction of borehole yields				+
Reduced baseflow and springflow				+
Degradation of ecosystems		+
Sea water intrusion		+
Salt water upconing	+
Polluted water drawn into aquifer	+
Land subsidence	+
Other (please specify)

5.2 Problems related to groundwater quality

Indicate in the table the type, nature and scale of groundwater quality problems in the aquifer

Problem	Nature of problem		Typical range of concentrations	Scale, using classes 1-4 from table above
Problem	Natural origins	From human activities	Typical range of concentrations	Scale, using classes 1-4 from table above
Salinisation	+			2
Nitrogen species	Agriculture	Agriculture		1
Pesticides	+	Agriculture		1
Heavy metals	+			1
Pathogens	+			1
Industrial organic compounds	+	Industry		1
Hydrocarbons	+			1
Other (please specify)
Organic matters
Arsenic

5.3 Evidence for transboundary effects

b) Do you observe any decline of groundwater levels (or piezometric levels) caused or probably caused by activities in neighbouring countries?

Yes □ No □

c) Do you observe any groundwater pollution caused or probably caused by activities in neighbouring countries?

Yes □ No □

6. TRANSBOUNDARY MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Indicate in the table which measures are presently being implemented or need to be applied

Management Measures	Already used and effective	Used, but Need to be improved	Need to be applied	Currently planned
Transboundary institutions (commissions, agreements, treaties, etc.)	+
Groundwater abstraction management by regulation (licensing, taxation)	+
Groundwater abstraction management by incentives or disincentives (subsidies, credits, energy prices, energy supply, etc.)	+
Increasing efficiency of groundwater use	+
Monitoring of groundwater quantity	+
Monitoring of groundwater quality	+
Public awareness campaigns	+
Protection zones for public supplies		+
Vulnerability mapping for land use planning		+
Good agricultural practices		+
Groundwater integrated into river basin management
Wastewater reuse or artificial recharge		+
Treatment of urban wastewater
Treatment of industrial effluents
Other (please specify)

7. POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE PROPERTIES

Does your country have domestic legislation on water resources ? èyes. In particular, does this legislation include a part on groundwater resources, or is there a separate groundwater legislation? èIncludes a part of groundwater ressources. Could you give an indication of the main provisions concerning groundwater, such as abstraction, licensing, pollution prevention zoning mechanisms etc.
What is the governmental institutional set-up for water management in your country, at national and sub-national level? (Give full name of institution(s), and a brief description of the relevant internal structure and mandate). èThere is a consultation mechanism. Is there any specific government institution for groundwater management? èyes
Are there any arrangements or agreements with your neighboring States regarding the transboundary aquifers ? èyes. Is there any form of cooperation with the neighboring States on the transboundary aquifers? èyes

8. NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS OF PERSON(S) COMPLETING THIS FORM:

Name…: Mohamedou OULD BABA SY……………………

Institution…: Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS)……………………

Address…: Boulevard du Leader Yasser ARAFAT. BP31; 1080; Tunis.……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Tel. : (+216) 71 206 633……..Fax. (+216) 71 206 636……………E-mail : lamine.babasy@oss.org.tn……………………………………..

· AQUIFER PROPERTIES

Uses and Functions

Organic matters

Arsenic