Groundwater in Developing Countries : Case Studies from MENA, Asia and West Africa

This book comprehensively discusses different scientific approaches, including groundwater sustainability, numerical modeling, index approach, isotope hydrology, environmental Isotopes, and advanced GRACE satellite data from different regions in developing countries globally, to help understand the groundwater system for strategic management of freshwater resources. This would help estimate an accepted logistic framework that might help control, and evaluate the significance of predicted climatic and anthropogenic impacts on groundwater resources.

The book presents and discusses unique case studies from Asia (Turkey, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan), MENA (Middle East and North Africa), particularly focussing on Algeria, Egypt New Delta, and KSA and West Africa (Nigeria) and has chapters covering most of the other MENA countries. The book presents a comprehensive investigation of the methods employed for groundwater utilization, with a dual focus on elucidating existing issues and confronting contemporary challenges. The findings are significant as they provide a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding groundwater utilization. Approaches for enhancing and rationalizing water extraction from Saharan aquifers are discussed to promote regional advancement and preserve long-term sustainability. The book will be of great help to numerous researchers and academicians, and will be an important account for stakeholders.  

Dr. Shakir Ali is a hydrogeologist working in the Jal Jeevan Mission sponsored by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Dr. Shakir research domains include groundwater contaminants, particularly fluoride, environmental isotopes, and groundwater modelling. He has published 25+ research articles in international peer-reviewed journals and edited three books with Springer, including one in the HEC top series of Springer. Dr. Shakir has received 1100+ Google Scholar citations to date. He earned a master’s degree in hydrogeology from the prestigious institute of India, IIT Bombay, and obtained his Ph.D. from University of Delhi. He has 10+ of research and teaching experience in the field of hydrogeology. Dr. Shakir has qualified several competitive exams in India and received numerous scholarships. He served as a reviewer for dozens of international journals of Springer and Elsevier. He also served as an Assistant Professor at Himachal Pradesh University. Currently, Dr. Shakir is also a part of a national scientific committee in the 9th International Congress & Exhibition on Arsenic in the Environment to be held in India in 2024.

Abdelazim Negm is a Professor of Hydraulics (and Water Resources) at the Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Egypt, since 2004. He earned his Ph.D. in 1992 from Zagazig University (ZU), and his M.Sc. from Ain Shams University in the year 1990. He was the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of ZU from 12/2008 to 12/2011 and was the head of the Environmental Engineering Department at Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Egypt, from October 2013 to March 2016. He participated in several international projects from 2006 until now and led other international projects. He published more than 400 papers in national and international journals. Some of his papers were awarded the prize of the best papers. He is the editor of more than 40 Springer books with 15 volumes published in the Springer Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Series (HEC Series). He is a member of the scientific committee of several international Conferences and a member of the organizing committee of others. He participated in more than 110 conferences as well. He delivered several keynote talks at international conferences. Prof. Negm is a reviewer of more than 50 international scientific journals indexed in Scopus and WoS. He was the editor-in-Chief of EIJEST during the period of 2017–2020, a leading guest editor in the EMJEI, which is published by Springer, an editor of Scientific African Journal, and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, which Elsevier publishes. Also, he is a member of the editorial board of several scientific journals. Moreover, he has been a member of the editorial board of the famous Springer Series titled Handbook of Environmental Chemistry since 2019 and was head of the permanent scientific committee on Water Resources (Cycle 13) and the vice head (Cycle 12), the supreme council of Egyptian Universities, Egypt. Prof. Negm is listed in the most famous and prestigious directories in the world including the American Biographical Institute (ABI), Inc, USA, “Marquis Who's Who in the World,” 27th Ed., 2010, USA, until now and in IBC's 2000 as an Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century by International Biographical Center, Cambridge, England, since 2011 until the present. He was nominated for various awards by both ABI and IBC during the period 2011–2012.