Page 44 - Life & Land Use on the Bahrain Islands (Curtis E Larsen)

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Somewhat different views have been expressed by Italconsult (1971) which
set different limits and goals for their study, Bahrain was considered as a
hydrological unit with coastal Saudi Arabia. Where Wright had concentrated on the
geohydrology, Italconsult tried to consider agricultural land use as well. It was
evident that large areas of former agricultural land had been abandoned on
Bahrain. An examination of aerial photographs showed unmistakable evidence for
earlier expanded irrigation and cultivation (fig. 6).
Italconsult upheld the main views of Wright, but disagreed on two
significant points. First, their data did not show the sharp decrease in water level
between 1950 and 1966. The decline they saw as linear. Second, rather than rely on
the cumulative number of wells drilled into the aquifers, they were concerned with
the volume of water removed by the various wells. In essence, Italconsult claimed
that even though the number of wells had increased, the total extraction of water
had not. Thus, the change was to a new distribution system. They saw Bahrain's
water problem as the result of the natural depletion of the aquifers as Pleistocene
groundwater is continuously discharged. Evidence for the long-term depletion of
groundwater was presented as abandoned irrigation systems predating the
introduction of drilled wells and premodern, abandoned, agricultural land.
Italconsult chose a different logical position from Wright's. When Figure
5 is reexamined, it is apparent that the two curves are related. A problem arises in
their interpretation. When considering only the number of drilled wells, it is
possible to build a logical case that shows an increase in the number of drilled
artesian wells in response to an independent natural fall in water level. That is, as
spring levels fall, gravity-flow irrigation systems lose their effectiveness. This
triggers landowners to adopt the drilled well as a solution to a natural problem and
accounts for an increase in the number of wells. The most recent research by the
Groundwater Development Consultants, Ltd. (FAO 1981), further complicates the
interpretation. These consultants present new data on water levels recorded since
1971 which show a decrease in the rate of groundwater depletion. In fact they show
slight rise in artesian water levels between 1972 and 1979. On a first appraisal it
would appear that water conservation measures in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are