Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Water Resources, State of Play, and Development Prospects in the Steppe Region of Naâma (Western Algeria)

2020; Springer Nature; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/698_2020_537

1867-979X

Abdelkrim Benaradj, Hafidha Boucherit, Touhami Merzouguı,

Groundwater and Watershed Analysis

The Naâma region contains significant underground water potential that has been little exploited, especially in the steppe plains around the chotts (El Chergui and El Gharbi), in the Naâma syncline. It has relatively large water resources and indeed benefits from many natural assets: heavy rains, a mountain water tower with large infiltration areas and snow-capped peaks, perennial rivers, and large underground aquifers continental intercalary (Albien). The water resources of the department are subject to constraints that affect the quantitative and qualitative potential of the waters. This integrated water management approach will contribute to sound planning taking into account the various social, economic, and environmental interests. It emphasizes the participation of stakeholders at all levels in the development of legal texts and emphasizes good governance and effective institutional and regulatory arrangements to promote more equitable and sustainable decisions. The approach must be implemented using the economic, institutional, and technical tools to increase the efficiency of irrigation, improve the operation and maintenance of perimeters, improve drainage, and reduce soil salinity. Integrated management of water resources must be learned from the perspective of sustainable development, to control its scarcity and excess; to ensure the supply of drinking water, agricultural, and industrial; and to preserve the quality of the environment. Indeed, it should be noted that the water resources of the department are appreciable but require to be evaluated in a precise way to ensure their use in a rational and sustainable manner. Water, which is a resource that is both limited and vital, is increasingly sought after and raises problems of sharing between the different economic and social users: between the supply of drinking water and irrigation, between water and water and irrigation and industry, and between urban and rural populations.