The launching workshop on the nexus assessment of the The North-West Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) was held on July 18-19, 2017 in Algiers, Algeria. Challenges of ensuring the sustainable use of the region’s water resources, common to the aquifer sharing countries of Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, were the focus of the first transboundary workshop in this project organized by the UNECE, Global Water Partnership Mediterranean and the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, with effective participation from the
Coordination Mechanism of the NWSAS
and KTH-dESA. Researcher presented the efforts of KTH-dESA related to the identification of nexus issues in the aquifer region. The water-energy nexus was the the focus of the first group discussions, followed by presentations of several case studies and solution options. The workshop brought together more than 50 participants from the three countries - representing the energy, agriculture, water and utility sectors as well as environmental protection organizations. The project is part of an ongoing process for enhancing transboundary cooperation for the management of the NWSAS and strengthening related capacities. The North-West Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS) is the principal groundwater resource shared between Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, with an estimated reserve of some 40,000 billion cubic metres of water, which is to a large degree non-renewable. Water from the aquifer is in high demand for potable and irrigation use in particular. In addition to the gradual decrease in groundwater table , there are risks linked to groundwater quantity and quality owing to shortcomings in wastewater management and irrigation drainage waters as well as oil and gas exploration.
