HR: 1340h
AN: H23B-1425    [Abstracts]
TI: Natural-derived contaminants and their resolution in transboundary water resources in the Middle East
AU: * Vengosh, A
EM: vengosh@duke.edu
AF: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AU: Weinthal, E
EM: weinthal@duke.edu
AF: Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 United States
AB: The rapidly growing population in the Middle East and the ensuing increase in exploitation have led to the degradation its renewable aquifers. In turn, countries in the Middle East have been forced to search for alternative resources like non- renewable (fossil) groundwater and to develop new technologies such as desalination. Here, we show that most of the contamination of the transboundary water resources in the Middle East is due to natural processes. We integrate hydrogeological, geochemical, and isotopic investigations to show that salinization of groundwater in the Gaza Strip, the Jordan River, and the groundwater along the Jordan and Arava valleys are natural phenomena triggered by over-exploitation and distraction of the fragile balance of the hydrological systems in the region. Recent investigations also show that fresh and brackish groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone aquifer in Israel and Jordan contains high level of natural radioactivity. Groundwater from similar basins in Egypt and Libya may also suffer from similar problems of high natural radioactivity in the groundwater. The scientific evidences that most of the contamination is natural raises new challenges for political and legal solutions for such transboundary water resources. Unlike the traditional upstream/downstream conflicts associated with transboundary water resources, the natural contamination demands a reevaluation of water resource management approaches in the Middle East. We argue that regional cooperation must be based upon political bargaining and side-payments rather than just international water law in order to not only foster cooperation, but, more important, to address the poor water quality situation in the Middle East.
DE: 1040 Radiogenic isotope geochemistry
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1830 Groundwater/surface water interaction
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
DE: 1834 Human impacts
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005