Water Requirements versus Water Availability in Saudi Arabia

Water demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has increased from 1,750 million cubic meters (Mm3) in 1975 to more than 9,600Mm3 in 1985, a five‐fold increase in ten years. At the same time increase on the supply side through water recycling and seawater desalination has been from around 18Mm3 to 605Mm3 during the same period. The development of these additional water supplies have been, however, far short of the increase in water demand, with groundwater making up the difference. This paper examines the above problem from the viewpoint of supply‐demand balance. First, the paper assesses the surface and groundwater resources of the Kingdom, and the present as well as the future conditions of sea water desalination and water cycling. The water demands of the various use sectors are given followed by projections of future water demands. The third phase compares the water supply‐demand situation under present and future conditions. From this comparison it was evident that unless there is a change in the current water use practices, groundwater, the major water resource of the Kingdom, will be mined in few decades and the extent that its usefulness may be severely diminished as a resource. When this develops, a severe water crisis will occur. The crisis can be reduced in severity, or averted, by taking the needed steps to bring into balance the annual water use with annual water supply.