Water Resources Management and Sustainable Urban Development: An Analytical Study of Current Challenges

Abstract

This research paper examines the reality of water resources and urban development challenges facing the municipalities of Ghadames, Darj, Sinawen, and Awal. Despite these municipalities possessing significant geostrategic, economic, commercial, agricultural, and tourism potential at both the Libyan and regional levels, water challenges continue to hinder those responsible for managing these resources. The Ghadames Basin is a non-renewable groundwater reservoir shared by Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria, yet it has not been optimally utilized to date. This paper aims to highlight the most important water resources and developmental problems suffered by the communities of these municipalities. Its importance lies in introducing this vital region, located between 600 and 650 kilometers from the capital, Tripoli, a journey of 8 to 10 hours by land, making it one of the most prominent areas of the Western Mountains with its unique characteristics. The research problem revolves around two main questions: Why has sustainable urban development not been achieved in the four municipalities of Ghadames, Darj, Sinawen, and Awal? And why have they been unable to manage their water resources effectively? The hypothesis, however, posits that financial challenges and a lack of attention to road construction have posed a challenge to water resource management and the achievement of sustainable urban development