Oman water resources : management and improvement of water exploitation methods used in Oman

Abstract EN

Agriculture in the Sultanate of Oman is dependent on irrigation.

In order to strengthen the contribution of agriculture to the national eccfriomy, remarkable public and private investment have been drawn into water and land resources development and towards modernization of farming techniques.

Rapid agricultural expansion has triggered significant groundwater depletion and Saline water intrusion in the major coastal aquifers, showing that the nation’s limited water resource cannot sustain the level of the current agricultural development.

A comprehensive water program has been undertaken by the government to conserve water through efficient use Measures included modern irrigation system, dams construction , AJlaj system improvement and water policy ؛egislation.

This paper explores the two main system presently used to explore water for domestic use and irrigation .

An old method known as Aflaj irrigation system has been analyzed in order to find techniques for improvement Specific actions are recommended to improve the use and distribution oS.

Aflaj water resources'.

Careful consideration, however, must be given to prevailing social rules and habits governing Aflaj management.

Introduction The history of hydrology of Oman is as ancient as existence There is adequate evidence that the ancient Oman witnessed a much wetter era than it has over its contemporaty history There are a number of evidences that illustrate this fact.

These includes fossil remains in tropical forest (now presented in the Natural History Museum), substantive aquifers of trapped fossil water and water level marks on wadis wtoch are far above present levels ^ water flow and runoff.

Oman is almost exclusively dependent onrainfall for its supply of fresh water .

Sub-surface and deep well are the main sources of water.

Traditional surface irrigation systems of aflaj provide more than 60 per cent of the fresh water supply in the Sultanate of Oman and irrigate around 55 per cent ofthe cropped area .

While the remaining 40 % of the supply comes from wells , dissertation and treated water .