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The usage of wastewater in African countries is quite low. This certifies that
there is no use of treated wastewater. Nigeria is the only country using desalinated
water. In Senegal and Burkina Faso, the produced wastewater is being used (Annex 6).
7.2. Arab Group
Arab countries have also water scarcity since they are not included in a
watershed. In these countries water resources are mostly the fossil waters which are
rarely fed by precipitations. They deplete like oil resources when they are not used.
These fossil water storages constitute the greatest amount of water resources of
Northern African countries, especially of Libya, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
For the presence of total annual renewable water resources, there are important
differences between Arab countries. While Iraq, Somalia and Egypt have the highest
amounts, United Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine have the lowest amounts (Figure
7.4).
In Arab countries, the vast majority of surface water resources consist of
renewable water resources. On the other hand, Syria, Sudan, Iraq and Somalia are
considered as the countries with the highest groundwater reserves. In terms of existing
surface and ground water resources, the United Arab Emirates were found to be
insufficient. Generally, Sudan in Arab Group countries is considered as the poorest
country with regard to both surface and groundwater resources (Figure 7.4).
In general, the Arab countries are quite able to store water in dams. Egypt and
Iraq's total annual water storage capacity through dams are 168 and 152 km3,
respectively. They are followed by Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Sudan, and Tunisia.
However, their annual amount of water storage in dams is less than 20 km3 (Annex 5).
Egypt in Arab Group of countries is the most prominent country in wastewater
use. Although in this country there is use of produced, treated, desalinated and reused
water, mostly they use produced and treated wastewater. Syria is the second country
about using produced wastewater. However, ratio of produced wastewater use of Syria
is 15% of Egypt’s wastewater use. In Arab countries, usage of desalinated water is
dominated by the United Arab Emirates (Annex 6).