Towards Sustainable Water Management in Sohar, Oman

Abstract

Traditionally Sohar, and the Al-Batinah province in which it is situated, has been the agricultural heart of Oman due to the presence of a fresh water aquifer in the subsurface of the Al-Batinah plain. Recent industrial and demographic developments in this area have come at such a rapid pace that they have inevitable altered the delicate water balance in the region. The effects of over extraction of ground water resources can be witnessed already. Significant numbers of wells in the region simply dried up while many others have become unsuitable for irrigation due to seawater intrusion. This study aims to provide an accurate picture of the current hydrogeological situation in the project area, assess the risks and threats of this situation as well as investigate possible measures to mitigate the existing threats.