Mohammed Werfelli’s dreams, like his farm in Algarabouli city, east of Tripoli, have shriveled up due to scarce water resources, especially groundwater that he depends on to irrigate his strawberry crops.

Mohammed Werfelli’s dreams, like his farm in Algarabouli city, east of Tripoli, have shriveled up due to scarce water resources, especially groundwater that he depends on to irrigate his strawberry crops.

Werfelli, a descendant of a family with a long farming history has noticed the depletion of ground water for years, but in 2013, wells have almost run dry. “With people’s lifestyles getting more sophisticated, there has been a marked increase in water demand. Climate changes have made things worse, affecting rainfall and increasing evaporation rates, together with the rise of the earth’s temperature, causing a considerable depletion of water.”

Unregulated drilling

The problem of dry wells in Libya has worsened since the 2011 revolution due to increased rates of unplanned construction and unlicensed well drilling, which has led to a large consumption of groundwater reserves that were not being regulated.

Abdullah Mohammed, a farmer from the same area, said, “The water problem is alarming, given the significant decrease of groundwater levels this year, which caused some farms to be literally without any crops.”

Mohammed appealed to the government to consider this problem and find a quick solution but he is still waiting.

Farmers’ mistakes

Water shortage has become a common complaint for many citizens especially those working in the agricultural field, who consider this problem a major obstacle, not to mention the adverse effects a water shortage has on agricultural food production and food prices.

“Water problems are attributed to the farmers themselves,” said Hadi Hinshir, the Libyan Minister for Water Resources. “Farmers work without proper strategies and commit many irregularities the top of which is a failure to apply for licenses to drill wells.  In addition they waste water and use traditional irrigation systems instead of drip irrigation systems, for example, which helps preserve groundwater supply,” he explained.

Hinshir also claimed that citizen tampering with drinking water supply lines and using them to irrigate their farms without being concerned about the repercussions contributed to the. He also criticized the improper applications of water in agriculture, industry and other fields.

Uncultivable land

The Water Resources Minister has blamed policies adopted by the former regime, which he claims was more interested in propagating useless agricultural projects than minding the negative impact caused by such practices.

Hinshir explained, “The fall of groundwater to low levels over the past decades was the result of excessive reclamation of arable and non-arable land, which led to encroachment of sea water on many parts of the coast.”

Vandalism, he added, has also recently affected water supply pipelines and is considered one of the most important problems facing his ministry.

Alternative sources

For his part, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Abu Bakr Akhati stressed that the ministry strives to implement an alternative water resources plan and added that the ministry hoped through this plan, to contribute to bringing back groundwater to acceptable levels to prevent further sea water encroachment.

The plan is to link the areas, which are not supplied by the manmade river, in addition to maintaining and developing the existing wells and installing desalination plants along the coast region to prevent likely water shortages caused by stoppage of any of the operating sources due to breakdowns or regular maintenance work, he explained.

Wastewater

Akhati stated that after extensive efforts, the ministry has managed to bring wastewater authority under its control, which will empower it to implement wastewater treatment projects and convert wastewater into clean water fit for irrigating parks and gardens and for use in many other public utility areas. Wastewater treatment residuals would be converted to a fertilizer used for agricultural soil.

Akhati also underlined the role of the media in educating citizens and guiding them for rationalized and optimal water consumption and utilization. “Man should not be selfish since water is a shared right for us and for those who come after us and citizens’ awareness as well as responsiveness to the common good remain the greatest challenge for preserving the source of life for us and for future generations,” he concluded.

However, the ministry’s projects remain a farfetched dream for Werfelli, who still suffers the pain of seeing his farm withering away and, day after day, losing its past glory.