Urban Water Management Challenges in Developing Countries: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Accelerated growing population and migration to urban areas in developing countries have resulted in a vital need for the establishment of protected source water and modern, well-maintained drinking-water treatment plants to disseminate potable water to residents. While the challenge in the developed world is mainly to prevent existing infrastructure from decay and to initiate a transition from the disposal-oriented regimes toward more sustainable approaches with a focus on reuse options, the situation is more complex in developing countries. Developing countries suffer from economic problems and are often struggling with insufficient infrastructure and low water supply and sanitation coverage, particularly in rapidly growing urban slum settlements, with significant consequences, especially regarding public health. In this chapter, we discuss the urban water cycle and water consumption, the challenges facing urban water management in developing countries including climate change, the concept of integrated water resources management, and the framework for integrated urban water management in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including the salient socioeconomic and environmental stresses and trends that will drive and condition water supply and demands over the coming decades. It is concluded that approaches for advanced international and intersectoral cooperation and for identifying and strengthening intellectual and technical resources, tools, lessons, and best practices should be shared, applied, or adapted across the region. Finally, recommendations are made for improved management of water resources in MENA countries.