Bahrain's Water Sources: A Desert Nation's Challenge

Bahrain is located in an arid environment and is considered one of the countries with the lowest per capita freshwater availability in the world. The country has no rivers, perennial streams, or lakes, and its average annual rainfall is low at around 80mm per year. Bahrain's freshwater resources are primarily sourced from two groundwater systems: the Dammam aquifer system and the Rus-Umm er Radhuma (Rus-UER) aquifer system. The country also relies on desalination plants and treated municipal wastewater to meet its water requirements. However, the heavy extraction of groundwater has led to a severe decline in aquifer water levels, causing natural springs to stop flowing. To address the water scarcity issue, Bahrain has invested in desalination infrastructure, with plans to increase desalination capacity by 75% by 2030.

Desalination plants

Bahrain has an established policy of meeting municipal water requirements with desalination plants, and it has a well-developed water utility sector with several large desalination plants that fulfil nearly all of the municipal water requirements. The sector has grown rapidly alongside the kingdom’s social and economic development.

One example of a desalination plant in Bahrain is the Al Dur seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant, which has a daily capacity of 218,000 cubic metres. The plant is part of a larger project that combines electricity production and desalinated water production. Another example is the Durrat Al Bahrain desalination plant, which was designed to serve the irrigation needs of a prestigious island and resort development.

The Bahraini government is working to increase current desalination capacity by 75% by 2030. However, the use of desalination technology has environmental consequences, including increased carbon dioxide emissions and the removal of essential minerals from the water. As a result, the government is also focusing on water conservation and has formed the Water Resources Council to protect and develop the country's water resources.

Water scarcity

Bahrain is one of the countries with the lowest per capita freshwater availability in the world. The country's arid to extremely arid climate, high average temperatures, erratic and scanty rainfall, and high evapotranspiration rates create impossible conditions for perennial surface water systems to exist. The country has no rivers, continuously flowing streams, or lakes.

The main sources of freshwater in Bahrain are its two groundwater systems: the renewable Dammam aquifer system and the non-renewable Rus-Umm er Radhuma (Rus-UER) aquifer system. However, heavy dependence on these groundwater resources, particularly for agriculture and municipal sectors, has led to over-extraction, causing a severe decline in aquifer water levels and the cessation of all natural springs.

The over-utilization of the Dammam aquifer has also resulted in water salination, with seawater invasion and industrial discharges further degrading the quality and quantity of groundwater reserves. As a result, Bahrain has had to rely on desalination to meet its municipal water requirements, with desalination plants providing at least 60% of the country's freshwater.

The construction and operation of these desalination plants have environmental impacts, including increased salinity in the ocean, high energy consumption, and the release of large amounts of CO2. The process of desalination also removes essential minerals from the water. Despite the high cost of desalinated water, Bahrain has had to construct and operate a large number of these plants to meet its freshwater demands.

The growing population of Bahrain, driven by migration and a high population density, has further exacerbated the issue of water scarcity. The increasing demand for freshwater due to the rising population has exceeded the country's natural resources, and it is estimated that freshwater availability will continue to decline.

To address the water scarcity issue, the Bahraini government has taken steps to improve and expand sanitation facilities, including adding new treatment plants and expanding existing ones. The government has also launched recycling initiatives, a waste-to-energy project, and public awareness campaigns to combat waste accumulation. However, the aging sewage system and rising population continue to strain the country's water resources.

Water pollution

Bahrain's principal environmental issues are the scarcity of fresh water, desertification, and pollution from oil production. The country's oil industry has developed without concern for its fertile land, resulting in the pollution of natural groundwater reservoirs. Oil spills and other discharges during the Persian Gulf War damaged oil-producing facilities in the Gulf Region, threatening the purity of both coastal and groundwater, and harming coastlines, coral reefs, and marine vegetation.

Bahrain's sewage system is old, with sanitation facilities dating back to the 1970s, making them inadequate for wastewater treatment. As a result, Bahrain has had to add new treatment plants and expand existing ones. The country's rising population and aging sewage system strain the availability of freshwater resources.

The country's groundwater suffers from degradation in quantity and quality due to over-extraction, seawater invasion, oil spills, and other industrial discharges. The over-utilisation of the Dammam aquifer by Bahrain's agricultural and domestic sectors causes water salination. As a result, desalination provides at least 60% of Bahrain's freshwater. However, desalination plants pose a threat to the environment as they increase the salinity of the ocean, harm the environment, and are energy-intensive.

To address water pollution and scarcity, Bahrain has implemented initiatives such as expanding seawater desalination facilities, limiting groundwater extraction, and protecting vegetation from further erosion. The government has also invested in recycling initiatives, waste-to-energy projects, and public awareness campaigns to combat waste accumulation.

Water imports

Bahrain is one of the countries with the lowest per capita freshwater availability in the world. The country's arid to extremely arid climate, erratic rainfall, and high evapotranspiration rates make it difficult for perennial surface water systems to exist. As a result, Bahrain has had to turn to alternative sources of freshwater, including water imports, to meet the needs of its growing population.

The country's water imports mainly come from neighbouring countries, such as Saudi Arabia. Bahrain's close proximity to the Arabian Gulf and its strong diplomatic relations with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, facilitate these water imports.

The imported water is treated at desalination plants, either through thermal processes or reverse osmosis, to make it suitable for human consumption. Bahrain's water authorities are working to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their desalination processes, as they are energy-intensive and have environmental impacts.

In addition to importing water, Bahrain has also invested in wastewater treatment plants to recycle and reuse water. The country has implemented initiatives to promote water conservation and awareness among its residents, encouraging them to adopt basic water-saving practices in their daily lives.

Water conservation

Bahrain is one of the countries with the lowest per capita freshwater availability in the world. With a rising population, the demand for freshwater has exceeded the country's natural resources. Bahrain's freshwater sources are limited to groundwater and desalinated seawater. Here are some essential insights and measures regarding water conservation in the country:

Insights on Water Conservation

• Bahrain's climate is arid to extremely arid, with high average temperatures, erratic rainfall of around 80 mm/year, and high evapotranspiration rates of about 1850 mm/year.
• The country has two groundwater systems: the renewable Dammam aquifer system and the non-renewable Rus-Umm er Radhuma (Rus-UER) aquifer system.
• Over-extraction of groundwater, especially from the Dammam aquifer, has led to a severe decline in water levels, causing all natural springs to stop flowing.
• The quality and quantity of groundwater reserves have been severely degraded due to over-extraction, seawater intrusion, oil spills, and other industrial discharges.
• Desalination plants play a crucial role in providing freshwater, but they are costly and have adverse environmental impacts, including increased ocean salinity and high CO2 emissions.
• Bahrain's sewage system is old, and wastewater treatment facilities are inadequate to meet the demands of the growing population.
• The country's high population density and solid waste generation further contribute to the strain on water resources.

Measures for Water Conservation

• Bahrain's government is taking steps to improve and expand sanitation facilities, including constructing new treatment plants and a deep gravity sewer project.
• The Water Resources Council (WRC) was formed to protect and develop water resources and raise community awareness about optimal water usage.
• Basic water conservation practices, such as turning off taps while brushing teeth or shaving, running appliances only when full, using water-efficient appliances, and fixing leaks, can significantly contribute to reducing water wastage.
• Treated wastewater reuse is essential, and Bahrain has plans for its full utilization through major agricultural projects.
• Desalination technology improvements, such as the increased use of reverse osmosis (RO), help reduce energy costs and environmental impacts.

Frequently asked questions