Rainfall in Syria has declined by 75 percent this winter compared to last year, with the exception of the coastal areas which have witnessed a similar rate to that of last year.
The pro-government SenSyria website said in a report published on Sunday that the reduction of current rainfall is expected to have negative consequences in the coming summer, from the rationing of drinking water to agricultural plans. This comes in light of the absence of action from Damascus to address these urgent issues.
The website added that it is obvious the reduction in rainfall will affect the quality of agricultural yields, as well as the extent of which these yields will depend on irrigation and will drain groundwater.
In a related context, the reduction in rainfall will naturally lead to a reduction in groundwater in most wells, springs, rivers and dams, as is the case in the Ain al-Fija spring. Essam Tabaa, the deputy of the Institute for Drinking Water and Sanitation in Damascus and its countryside, said recently that the water situation in the capital is worrying and the rate of rainfall in the Al-Fija spring is no more than 30 percent, which is a small rate compared with recent years.
A Syrian economic news website said that the Ministry of Water Resources estimates the water deficit at more than 3 billion cubic meters annually, noting that 29 percent of drinking water is secured from rivers, 38 percent from wells, 21 percent from springs and 2 percent from dams.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
