الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Recently; the expression ”Transboundary Water” was loudly sounded with the sharp shortage of freshwater in several countries that share in international rivers basins. The complex natural, historical, political, economic, and institutional conditions, as well as human interactions within the international rivers basins, make water management in these basins more difficult. Egypt, which extremely depends on the outside flow through the unique River Nile, is suffering from problematic water situation that resulted from the increased stress on the limited available water resources with increasing of water demands due to the accelerated population growth and economic development. This problematic water situation is exacerbated by what is being said about the harmful effects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Egyptian water share from the River Nile. In the light of this complicated water situation; the scientific attention in Egypt is directed towards studying of the worldwide approaches to deal with disputes over the international water, through analyzing and comparing of the previous studies and experiences that were implemented or proposed concerning with management of the worldwide international rivers basins from the political, scientific and engineering points of view; in order to provide directions for dealing successfully with the management and development of these international basins. These directions represent successful experiences, which can be applied to foster cooperation over water in other basins especially, the hot spot River Nile basin. Such successful experiences will be the approach of the present study concerning with the Nile basin, in a scientific attempt for introducing of a logical and fair methodology to overcome any current or possible dispute over water, which may resist or prevent the sustainable development within the basin. The present study analyzed water management in selected international rivers basins, as representatives of the five continents. The selected basins are the Abstract (iii) Zambezi River basin in Africa, the Ganges River basin in Asia, the Danube River basin in Europe, the Colorado River basin in North America, and the La Plata River basin in South America. The study proved that; the most efficient cooperative methods in dealing with the problems of water management in these selected basins are the costs and benefits sharing’s strategies followed by the effective scientific solutions. These efficient cooperative methods should be applied to foster cooperation over water in the River Nile basin, including all the upstream and downstream countries. Fostering cooperation over water among the Nile co-basin countries is very essential now more than ever to face the current and potential hydrological conditions within the basin, which were analyzed in the present study. The study proved that, the flow in the River Nile, along its length, represents only about 4% of the total rainfall over the basin that was estimated to be roughly 2095 BCM/year; while the remaining amounts of rainfall, nearly 2010 BCM/year, are lost from the basin through mainly evapotranspiration and other forms of losses, include; groundwater recharge, conveyance seepage losses, and storage in large lakes and wetlands. Concerning with the climatic changes impacts; the present study concluded that, the Egyptian share from the Nile water is anticipated to decrease by nearly 10% and 17% in the 2050s and 2080s periods, respectively, relative to the historical conditions. It’s worth mentioning that; the present study analyzed also the impacts of hydropower dams on the Nile flow associated with the climatic changes impacts, and proved that; if the hydropower dams in the Nile basin are completed in the 2050s or 2080s periods; the net flow at Aswan would be about 36.18 or 30.52 BCM/year, respectively, due to evaporation losses. Also; the present study analyzed the impacts of the upstream irrigation projects on the Nile flow associated with the climatic changes impacts, and illustrated the extremely serious water situation that will face Egypt in the future, with the progress of upstream irrigation projects, even if the average irrigation efficiency is improved to be about 60-80%. Abstract |