Title: Towards efficient use of water resources management: a case study of the Syrian coastal region

Authors: Hussain Aziz Saleh; Georges Allaert; Renaat De Sutter

Addresses: Higher Commission for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 30151, Damascus, Syria; Institute for Sustainable Mobility, Ghent University, Vrijdagmarkt 10/301 9000 Gent, Belgium ' Institute for Sustainable Mobility, Ghent University, Vrijdagmarkt 10/301 9000 Gent, Belgium ' Institute for Sustainable Mobility, Ghent University, Vrijdagmarkt 10/301 9000 Gent, Belgium

Abstract: During the past five decades, Syria has undergone huge changes and achieved considerable developments on the social and economic life. During the same period, its population has risen from below three million in 1970 to over 24 million today (at the end of 2013). However, this economy which has made a positive impact on the livelihoods of the people is not risk free. The environment has deteriorated and natural resources are being used unsustainably undermining economic and social development. Other problems are the aridity, deterioration in water quality, complexity in hydro-politics, inefficiency in water distribution and use, etc. This critical situation represented by water shortage and increasing population results in a growing water demand to meet domestic, industrial, commercial, and agricultural needs. Therefore, an advanced integrated water resources management system is needed to ensure the coordinated development and management of water resources. This paper presents a methodology based on advanced dynamic optimisation and geo-information technologies for supporting economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of the environmental system. A case study on the Syrian coastal region is presented which could be applied to all the regions in the country.

Keywords: water resources management; water resources planning; decision support systems; DSS; arid environments; dynamic optimisation; water use efficiency; water management; case study; Syria; coastal regions; water quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2016.073740

International Journal of Water, 2016 Vol.10 No.1, pp.28 - 54

Received: 22 Jun 2013
Accepted: 31 Mar 2014
Published online: 17 Dec 2015 *

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