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Newsletter and Technical Publications
<Sourcebook of
Alternative Technologies for Freshwater Augmentation
in West Asia>
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
As previously noted, a workshop on this Source Book for alternative technologies
to increase freshwater resources in the Arab countries of West Asia was held on 18-20 April, 1999,
in the ACSAD Office in Damascus. At the workshop, participating experts discussed the draft final
report prepared by the Arab Center on the basis of the scientific information presented in the
country reports. The experts concluded there are a group of alternative technologies being
successfully applied on a large scale that can be used to increase freshwater supplies, as well as
improving the quality of the existing freshwater resources. They also concluded that the knowledge
provided on the various technologies could be utilized on all levels. The participants also
concluded that there were specific difficulties and problems facing the region, including the
following:
- Financial difficulties, whereas many countries of the West Asia region are facing financial
difficulties in developing projects related to increasing freshwater quantity and quality;
- Lack of awareness and knowledge of the applications of these technologies;
- Lack of enforcement of legislation and regulations, as well as their virtual absence in some fields
of water quality and increase;
- Unclear and interferring responsibilities in the water sector as a result of the fragmentation
of authority and responsible agencies for its management, improvement and development;
- Absence of environmental and social impact assessment studies for applying the alternative
technologies;
- Lack of communication between relevant and available expertise in this field in the different
countries of the region.
Based on the above considerations, the participants recommendced the following actions:
- Widely distribute this Source Book to relevant decision- and policy-makers in the field of
freshwater resources, as well as to interested members of the general public;
- Establish an information network for these alternative technologies for freshwater augmentation
in the Arab Center, in cooperation with the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia an its International
Environment Technology Center, for the purpose of information and expertise exchange, data collection
and periodical updates within the Arab countries of West Asia. Also develop publications or detailed
technical booklets based on the Source Book, for widespread and easy use by scientific institutes,
official authorities and non-governmental organizations;
- Develop integrated awareness programs on the importance of introducing these alternative
technologies, and the creation of new freshwater support services for this purpose;
- Emphasize the participation of community local authorities and non-governmental organizations
in all stages of developing projects for alternative technologies for augmenting freshwater supplies;
- Encourage research and technology transfer projects in the field of alternative technologies
for increasing water quantity and quality, as well as promising studies for new technologies;
- Distribute this Source Book on alternative technologies widely for increasing water quantity and
quality for all the Arab countries;
- Conduct appropriate environmental and social impact assessment studies (impact, risk, technology)
relevant to implementing these alternative technologies.
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