Hydrological issues in Mediterranean coastal semiarid irrigation districts in the context of the AI4Water PRIMA project

Abstract

Mediterranean coastal areas are prone and increasingly exposed to hydrological stress driven by water scarcity, climate change, increasing agricultural pressure, groundwater exploitation, and water quality degradation. These drivers manifest differently across regions but often result in common challenges and issues such as salinization, saltwater intrusion, and competition between agricultural and domestic or industrial water uses, thus impacting water management in irrigation districts. In this context, the AI4Water PRIMA project investigates hydrological issues and water management challenges in four Mediterranean coastal irrigation districts and aims to apply Artificial Intelligence optimization and prediction techniques to improve water management. The four study areas are the Ras Jebel Coastal area (Tunisia), the Coastal Constantinois and Seybouse Basins (Algeria), the Capitanata Irrigation District (Italy), and the Nile Delta Basin (Egypt). Although these areas are all located in the Mediterranean region, they differ in population (from 50 thousands up to 3.5 million people), hydrogeological characteristics, water sources, irrigation practices, and water management policies. This contribution, after introducing the AI4Water project, presents a preliminary comparison of the main hydrological and irrigation issues in the selected case studies, with a broader Mediterranean perspective. The comparison highlights both shared vulnerabilities and site-specific drivers of hydrological stress, emphasizing the need for context-dependent management strategies. By framing the different case studies within a common perspective, the project provides a basis for cross-district comparison and discussion, supporting the development of adaptive and transferable water management approaches for Mediterranean coastal systems. This comparative approach is intended to stimulate discussion and critical feedback from the scientific community working on similar or related case studies.