A positive apportionment framework for water allocation in contested transboundary river basins : energy as a catalyst along the Jordan River Basin -

Abstract

The majority of transboundary water resources lack any form of cooperative management framework whose absence invariable causes adverse environmental and water stress within the basin. This situation applies to the Jordan River Basin (JRB), which is a transboundary river basin shared by Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority and Syria. The JRB is facing severe environmental and water stress problems aggravated by factors such as water scarcity, political conflict, population growth and urbanization, and climate change. Though bilateral agreements exist among some of its riparians, the latter did not succeed at addressing the environmental and water scarcity problems faced within the JRB. To encourage comprehensive cooperation among the JRB riparian countries, a positive apportionment framework based on “beyond-the-river” benefit sharing approach is explored. The creation of a shared vision of cooperation based on the framework could allow for an integrated transboundary water management to address the environmental and water scarcity problems. The study considers first water allocation according to international water law criteria. Previous water allocation plans for the JRB have invariably ignored the contribution of groundwater in the allocation process of shared water resources. As such, the study presented a first effort at examining the impact of groundwater on water allocation along the JRB. The sensitivity of allocation is quantified through the assessment of scenarios that use various weights to factors commonly advocated towards equitable water allocation. Groundwater resources were estimated at nearly 40percent of surface water (~514 MCM-year) confirming that its consideration provides a more realistic basis of the extent of perceived inequities in the case of the JRB. It becomes imperative for water agreements to improve groundwater characterization within a transboundary basin and develop a clear understanding of groundwater resources including potential lateral flows and interconn