This document summarizes two case studies of transboundary aquifers between Morocco and Algeria, and Morocco and Mauritania. It discusses the shared watersheds and aquifers between the countries, including the importance of the Senonian aquifer for water supply. It also outlines current independent management practices for the aquifers and the need for cooperation between countries to prevent overexploitation and pollution of the shared groundwater resources. The document concludes by presenting challenges and perspectives for improving understanding of the aquifers and establishing organizational and legal frameworks for integrated water resources management through information sharing, training, and cooperation between the countries.

1. Transboundary aquifers in Maghreb: 2 Case Studies towards Regional Cooperation
Morocco - Algeria
Morocco - Mauritania
Prof. Abdelkkader LARABI
Director of the Regional Water
Centre of Maghreb
Mohammed V University, Rabat
E-mail: larabi@emi.ac.ma
Near East and North Africa Land and Water Days, 15 – 18 December 2013, Amman, Jordan

2. Creataceous basin
Bir GuendouzBoulanouar aquifer
S 1 = 64100 Km2
S2 = 3000 km2

3. I- Transboundary watershed Morocco-Algeria:
- A large part of Guir basin is located
in the High Atlas and the rest is
located in Algeria (Hammad du Guir).
- Water flow is maily coming from
High Atlas, storms and deep aquifers
under springs
watershed and drainage system in Morocco, showing the Jorf
Torba dam located in Algeria very close to the border.

4. II- Transboundary aquifers Morocco-Algeria:
Importance of the
Senonian aquifer
• Water supply for drinking
and Irrigation of traditional
Agriculture in Oases.
• Recharge of The Guir river.

5. Synthetic geological section (NNW-SSE), through the Cretaceous basin
The Plioquaternary covers the central and southern parts of Boudnib. It is composed of silt, sand and silt
with a variable thickness hardly exceeding 25m.
Continental Tertiary extends to the east and south to form the Hamada Guir (sandstones, conglomerates,
clays, siltstone, limestone, gypsum and anhydrite). Tickness : can exceed 400 m in southwest of Boudnib.
Senonian outcrops in North and South Boudnib Sehli – axis (sandstone and clay gypsiferous).
The Cenomanian (limestones with marly sandstone).

6. Functioning scheme of the khettara in south of Maghreb region.
a
b
Distribution of water coming from Khettara (a) and aeration wells for maintenance (b)

7. III- Transboundary aquifers Morocco-Mauritania
• Water supply for drinking of
the Bir El Guendouz
population in Morocco
• Water supply for drinking of
the Boulanour and Noudibou
cities
Location and geological formations of the Bir Guendouz area

8. • High salinity due Seawater
intrusion from the west part of
the aquifer system
(overexploitation)
• The aquifer extends also to
Senegal.

9. IV- Practices in the case studies
• Management of these aquifers for water supply is made independently
• Groundwater mining and Pollution, especially in the shared aquifer system between Morocco and Mauritania
• Informations and data on these aquifer systems are shared between scientists in the framework of EU Maghreb
projects including Morocco , Algeria and Tunisia:
• Regional Water Centre of Maghreb (implemented in Rabat) to train Maghreb Professionals in Water
Resources Management; Water Resources Studies, Organise Thematic Seminars and Workshops
• Biskra, December 2012 on Scarce Water Resources Management and Climate Changes;
• Annaba, April 2013 on Management of Transboundary Aquifers : Case studies from Maghreb (NWAS)
• Msc and PhD students exchanges between Maghreb Universities in the framework of Research projects and and
mobilities
• Database to be developed and available for both countries

10. V - Challenges for the case studies
• Avoid irreversible degradation of these shared aquifer systems,
• Establish Dialogue/constructive collaboration between both countries,
• First Precondition is a GOOD UNDERSTANDING of the Characteristics and functionning of the shared aquifers,
• Establish cooperation between the 2 countries taking into account the common benefitof IWRM,
• Optimise the social, economic and environmental benefits of water,
• Create appropriate institutions (Laws, committees, joint authorities, …): A/Res/63/124 of the UN is an excellent
reference,
• Involve international organisations to assist, especially for the regional cooperation and conducting Joint Projects
as potential partners with the parties (OSS, ….):
• Database to be developed and available for both countries,
• Regional monitoring network should be designed and covers both areas,
• Share and Exchange updated information,
• Agreement and Joint Structure of the study and developement must be created.

11. VI - Perspectives for the case studies
• Encourage Improving the Understanding of TBA of these cases studies,
• Establish Organisational and institutional tools to implement IWRM,
• Legal and Administrative tools,
• Economic and financial tools,
• Training and professional improvement tools,
• Tools for participation and cooperation to ensure exchange of information and develop long lasting – cooperation,
• Learnt lessons from NWAS and NSAS
• Organise a preliminary workshop training to debate the technical issues and to come out with suggestions,
• Encourage Msc and PhD students exchages between both countries to study these aquifers.
• Web site of the regional Water Centre for better communication.

12. The New Paradigm
From:
 technocratic
to
integrated
 disciplinarity
to
multidisciplinarity
 subjective
to
participatory
 supply management to
 deterministic
to
demand management
risk analysis