Researcher needs $350000 for artificial feeding of underground waterImplementing the largest real experiment in the world upon the availability of funds [Archives:2004/747/Business & Economy]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
Water resources in Yemen have reached a crucial phase. In some cities, they are on the brink of a crisis. Water security constitutes a national threat requiring major efforts. According to expectations, the water reservoir is not sufficient for the next few years and the current statistics record an annual deficit of 900 million cubic meters under the current water consumption, knowing that these indicators are based on the current water demand.
Despite the severity of the problem, no genuine efforts and attempts are sought to remedy the situation. Although there are several pieces of research on how to reduce the size of the impact, they simply do not get the attention they deserve. For example, there is a research by Mossa Al-Faraway on artificial feeding of the underground water since 1996, that could prove to be effective, but the researcher has only become frustrated trying to market his idea from one authority to another.
Yemen Times met Mr. Mossa for the second time during the past few years to gain an insight on his project.
Mr. Mossa calls on water activists, inside and outside the country, to adopt the concept he has been trying to market during the past 9 years, which requires only 350,000 USD. It has gone through 4 different ministers. He insists that his idea is effective and cost effective.
The idea is mainly to focus on collecting rainwater, especially in valleys, by using swamps or pools separated by mud barriers, with controlling gateways for surplus water, and inspection rooms. In the filled swamp or pool, a well is then drilled for a giant 7000 cubic-meter capacity. At the top of the well four filters are installed to filter. The project is similar to bottle-feeding a patient.

Mr. Mossa said that he is certain that his concept, if implemented in Yemen, other countries with similar geographical elevations would not be reluctant to follow the example to ensure a safe underground water reservoir.
The project is supported and authenticated by Sana'a University and the Scientific Research Corporation, with two lengthy reports by them. In addition, two reports were prepared by qualified engineers at the Water Resources Public Authority that support the project. The first was sent to the Minister of Planning in 1996 and the second report was prepared in 2004, urging Minister of Agriculture to search for an authority to fund this vital project. But it seems that the four instructions of the Minister were not productive.
The file of Mr. Mossa stands now at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, which in turn is trying to find an authority to fund the project, although Ministry of Agriculture, by itself, could have funded and carried out the project.
Mr. Mossa bitterly pointed out that he has lost his earnings and a lot of money just marketing his project. If his project were implemented from the start, the project would have been beneficial to Yemen and other countries as well.
Mr. Mossa expressed his astonishment that a scientific center, in a rich and developed country, spent 10 million USD to determine how to differentiate between monkeys' species, and 350,000 USD could not be allocated to conduct a genuine experiment to feed the underground water reservoir artificially in order to protect future generations from an imminent drought.
——
[archive-e:747-v:13-y:2004-d:2004-06-17-p:b&e]