Sustainable development of Qatar aquifers under global warming impact

The recent sharp increase in Qatar population and urbanisation have exerted more pressure on the country's limited water resources. Many studies have recommended managed aquifer recharge (MAR) to improve groundwater quality and enhance water security. However, MAR appropriateness and feasibility in Qatar remain unexplored. This study establishes key MAR development indicators in Qatar considering current technical and socioeconomic factors. Results show that coupling the rainwater harvesting (RWH) and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is the optimum scenario for aquifer management and sustainability. In addition to resources augmentation, RWH will contribute to flash flood prevention, which adversely affects the environment. In contrast, the in-channel modification and spreading methods can reduce up to 80% of the water available for recharge. Further work includes considering climate change impacts and uncertainty in MAR design for karst aquifers. A recovery rate up to 25% might be recorded in ASR karstic heterogeneous sites.