No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Water resource problems in Algeria
Abstract
The question of water resources is posed urgently in Algeria. Underground water resources have been greatly reduced and efforts in this area remain very limited and often without achieving tangible results. Moreover, while underground water tables are reaching dangerously low levels, the demand for water from the urban population, industry, and especially agriculture is rapidly increasing, so complicating the problem. At the dawn of the 21st century Algeria will find itself in a very critical situation unless decisive changes are made.
Algeria's water resources, their use, and government policy towards water have already been well explained, particularly by J. J. PERENNES. What this study seeks to explore are two other important aspects of the water question: the destruction of underground water resources through over-use and pollution; and the growing shortage of water following droughts which may well portend climatic changes with dramatic consequences for Algeria.
... In the wake of droughts that affected the region between 1990 and 1995, the water reserve of Kaddara Dam fluctuated. Higher temperatures will produce higher evaporation rates so increasing aridity even if precipitation stayed the same (Sutton & Zaimeche, 1992). The rescue plan is imposed only if the amount stored in the Kaddara Dam falls below 70 million m³, which is less than half of its total storage capacity. ...
Of all the kinds of relationship, the one that links man with water is
considered as profound and serious in geographical surveys. Yet in the
past, the greatest threat to agriculture was a major problem, the attention
of people is now captured by water in cities. The increasing need of water in Algiers is due to the growth of population and urbanism. On the other
hand, there is a rise in water needs per capita. This problem didn't arise
during the last decades, but today the situation is no longer the same.
It's a considerable challenge for the capital Algiers, especiallyfor the next
generations. Using a geo-history method, which consists in studying the
evolution of hinterland water space in time, we will direct our research
towards the exposure of the influences exerted by the increase of water
needs in the zone of study. The finalityof the work is to identifythe water
resources around the Algiers City and that arises from the spacing of
evolution hinterland water. We will obtain valuable information about the
extension, the distance of the hinterland water supplier from the city of
Algiers. The expected results of this work is to determine the hinterland
which can be counted on to supply the city of Algiers with drinking water
in the medium and long term. Finally, we can think of hydraulic planning
and development based on the principles of sustainable development.
This with the aim of proposing solutions to current problems and ensuring
the needs of future generations.
... As a result, certain areas are impacted with intense salinization of the soil and water tables, thus affecting both agricultural and domestic water supplies. The increase in agricultural production andmore specifically date production-has put additional stress on ground water supplies (Sutton and Zaimeche 1992). This intensive agriculture involves increased chemical use (Demnati et al. 2012). ...
Chotts are salt lakes located in the arid regions of Northern Africa. These unique wetlands are recognized for their role in the migration and breeding of waterbirds and economic values generated from mineral extraction, agriculture and tourist activities. Despite their importance for flora and fauna biodiversity, they continue to face important threats due to human activities. This article consolidates a literature review of Algerian chotts from global to local importance. An in-depth view demonstrates the changes in land use of two large chotts in the southeastern region of Algeria: Chotts Merouane and Melghir. Land use images highlight a net expansion of agricultural lands, a decrease in grazing area around the lakes and a decrease of salt lake surface area. The local focus highlights the threats and changes of Algerian and Northern African chotts and proposes some perspectives for the future.
Of all the kinds of relationship, the one that links man with water is considered as profound and serious in geographical surveys. Yet in the past, the greatest threat to agriculture was a major problem, the attention of people is now captured by water in cities. The increasing need of water in Algiers is due to the growth of population and urbanism. On the other hand, there is a rise in water needs per capita. This problem didn't arise during the last decades, but today the situation is no longer the same. It's a considerable challenge for the capital Algiers, especially for the next generations. Using a geo-history method, which consists in studying the evolution of hinterland water space in time, we will direct our research towards the exposure of the influences exerted by the increase of water needs in the zone of study. The finality of the work is to identify the water resources around the Algiers City and that arises from the spacing of evolution hinterland water. We will obtain valuable information about the extension, the distance of the hinterland water supplier from the city of Algiers. The expected result of this work is to determine the hinterland which can be counted on to supply the city of Algiers with drinking water in the medium and long term. Finally, we can think of hydraulic planning and development based on the principles of sustainable development. This with the aim of proposing solutions to current problems and ensuring the needs of future generations.
Accurate spatio-temporal estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) and surface energy fluxes is crucial for many agro-environmental applications, including the determination of water balance, irrigation scheduling, agro-ecological zoning, simulation of global changes in land use and forecasting crop yields. Remote sensing based energy balance models are presently most suitable for estimating ET at both temporal and spatial scales. This study presents an intercomparison of ET maps over the Habra plain in western Algeria obtained with two different models: Ts/VI trapezoid (Surface temperature/Vegetation Index Trapezoid Model) and SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land). Ts/VI trapezoid is the most used model, due to its simplicity, ease of use, few data input requirements and relatively high accuracy. It allows estimating ET directly by using the Priestley-Taylor equation. Whereas SEBAL allows estimating ET as the residual term of the energy balance equation, by using a rather complex hot and cold pixel based contextual approach to internally calibrate sensible heat flux through an iterative approach. The data set consists of four Landsat-8 OLI/TIRS images acquired on 2018-2019 and some ground measurements. In conclusion, the results show that SEBAL and Ts/VI trapezoid models provide comparable outputs and suggest that both the two models are suitable approaches for ET mapping over agricultural areas where ground measurements are scarce or difficult to collect.
The present study was done to compare between two free biomass biological
wastewater treatment processes (WWTP): (i) aerated lagoon AL which is an
extensive process and (ii) activated sludge AS which is an intensive process. For
the removal rates and exit concentrations of physical pollution (Total Suspended
Solids TSS), biological pollution (Biochemical Oxygen Demand after 5 days BOD5
and Chemical Oxygen Demand COD), nitrogen pollution (Nitrite and Nitrate) and
phosphorus pollution (Orthophosphates) of both processes were collected and
analyzed. The results showed that there is satisfactory removal rate of TSS, BOD5
and COD in accordance with Algerian and world health organization (WHO)
effluent discharge standards for the case of AS process. While for AL process,
removal rates of the three cited parameters were low and concentrations were
higher than that of WHO discharge standards. In accordance to the nutriments
(nitrogen and phosphorus), the removal rates are very low in the AL WWTP and
very high in the AS WWTP. Generally, the residual concentrations remain very
high in the treated effluent of both plants and could constitute a great risk of
eutrophication and cause the formation of algal blooms in AL WWTP. According
to these results, the AS is the most efficient process in Ouargla region.
This paper tries to show, through the Algerian example, that improved social conditions, on their own, are unlikely to lead to falls in population growth rates. Instead, social conditions are more likely to deteriorate as a result of the high growth of population. Algeria's post‐1985 success in promoting family planning, while significant and measurable, may be too limited. The paper also suggests that Algeria's attempts to feed its fast rising number of people, under semi arid conditions, are failing, and threaten to worsen an already fragile and fast deteriorating environment, posing serious questions for the country's future.
The three North African countries considered in this article have very fragile ecosystems. The French occupation and the ‘growth’ strategies followed since their independence have made the situation worse. The policies for the protection of the environment lack in substance, coherence and effectiveness. The authorities, elites and society in general are overwhelmed by other problems and are very remote from environmental issues. Should the present situation prevail, the three countries, Algeria in particular, will find themselves, in the not too distant future, in a situation as tragic as that of their neighbouring countries. The consequences will be more upheavals in a very unstable region.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.