A leading expert has outlined the key challenges and pressures on Qatar’s water resources. Kamel Mostafa Amer of the Department of Agriculture and Water Research (DAWR) said the main challenges were: l Population growth: In the absence of a justified official population projection, gauging the water demand of future is difficult (DAWR is aiming at a total stable population of 2mn) l Data unavailability and inaccuracy of water resources: This makes it difficult to make data-driven prediction models for assessment and demand projection. l Scarcity of conventional water resources: Scanty rainfall with an annual mean of 80.3mm, high summer temperature, high evaporation, very strong winds and high relative humidity. * Regulation enforcement: The lack of groundwater metering and enforced regulations which encourage uncontrolled usage. It also leads to over-exploitation. * Free groundwater: Available to farmers at no cost who pay only for the pumping cost. * Rising water table: Leakage is one of the main factors. Most water leakage takes place due to corrosive soil, poor installation and maintenance and improper design. * Social perception towards Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE): The most important obstacle to expanding the use of reclaimed water. * Need for a National TSE plan: Until now, no national plan for defining the use or the priority of the use of TSE in city landscaping, agriculture, cooling and other sectors. http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=287577&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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