The “Acceleration of Aquifer Storage and Recovery in the MENA Region” project aims at improving water security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by accelerating the practice of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR). Under this project, new methods for identifying high potential ASR sites, based on remote sensing and geospatial hydrologic analysis, are applied and demonstrated across beneficiary countries of Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon. The project also aims to enhance the capacity of MENA national institutions in developing non-conventional water resources for domestic and agricultural water supplies in line with the Arab Water Security Strategy, 2015-2030 endorsed by the League of Arab States and also in line with the sustainable development Goal 6.A: "By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling, and reuse technologies".
Through the project implementation period, adoption of ASR methods shall be accelerated by overcoming problems of efficiency and characterizing high potential sites. New methods that build on recent advances in remote sensing and geospatial data will be applied to map ASR potential in three study areas; the results will be tested and verified both at existing ASR locations and at locations where high ASR potential is indicated.
The project is funded by USAID. Also, multiple partners will contribute to the implementation of the project’s activities. Collaborating partners currently are:
• US Geological Survey (USGS)
• American University of Beirut (AUB)
• Jordan Ministry of Water & Irrigation (MWI)
• Litani River Authority (LRA)
• National Center for Research & Development (NCDR)
• Hydrology.NL
Previous partners (before January 2019) included:
• Al-Najah National University
• CrossVision/Acacia Water
• Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)
The project is funded by the USAID. Also multiple partners will contribute to the implementation of the project’s activities. Collaborating partners currently are:
• US Geological Survey (USGS)
• American University of Beirut (AUB)
• Jordan Ministry of Water & Irrigation (MWI)
• Litani River Authority (LRA)
• National Center for Research & Development (NCDR)
• Hydrology.NL
Previous partners (before January 2019) included:
• Al-Najah National University
• CrossVision/Acacia Water
• Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)