The groundwater crisis in Sabha: An Analytical Study of Aquifer Depletion and Water Quality Deterioration

Abstract

The city of Sabha, located in southwestern Libya, is one of the areas that relies mainly on groundwater to meet the needs of its more than 400,000 inhabitants. The city faces major challenges in the form of increasing depletion because of excessive pumping from artesian wells, declining groundwater levels due to insufficient natural recharge and high consumption rates, and deteriorating water quality due to pollution from agricultural and industrial leaks and the lack of sustainable water resource management, leading to poor distribution of consumption between the domestic and agricultural sectors. This study aimed to analyze the status of groundwater in Sabha by studying the physical characteristics of the area and assessing the impact of natural and human factors on groundwater consumption in the city of Sabha. The study used a descriptive, inductive, analytical and statistical approach, using Geographic Information Systems (ArcView) GIS technology for spatial analysis. The results of the study revealed a serious water crisis in Sabha, where the aquifer system is suffering from accelerated depletion at a rate of 2-3 meters per year in water levels due to excessive pumping that exceeds the natural recharge capacity by more than 99%. This problem is further exacerbated by the deterioration of water quality, with 85% of wells showing chemical or bacterial contamination, and salinity and hardness levels exceeding international standards, posing a threat to public health and limiting the suitability of water for agricultural use. Urban and random expansion has also contributed to a 40% reduction in natural recharge areas, while oasis agriculture has consumed 65% of water due to the use of inefficient irrigation methods. These challenges are exacerbated by the absence of a modern monitoring system after 2011, which hinders sustainable planning for this vital resource. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to implement an immediate strategy that includes updating monitoring systems, imposing strict controls on well drilling, and transferring modern irrigation technologies to avoid the collapse of the region's water system.