Adopting Sustainable Water Management Solutions under Social and Climate Change in Med Region: Cases from Palestine and Tunisia

The Southern Mediterranean region and particularly Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are probably one of those regions that face serious social, economic, environmental and political challenges. Among the most critical challenges are the increasing water scarcity and,thus, demand, resulting mainly from climate change and rapid population growth. Based on United Nations’ estimates in 2006, the population of the region will reach about 255 million inhabitants in 2025, out of which 179 million people will be living in urban centers in this region. The current paper summarizes the main findings of the socioeconomic survey conducted with the aim to collect baseline socio-economic information to be used in selecting the appropriate sustainable water management (SWM) solutions that can be implemented in various settlement typologies in the region, selected in the view of the main results of this survey. Data have shown that both, simple and advanced solutions (such as tools for regulating the water flow, shower diffusers, WC “Water Saving”, wastewater and greywater treatment and reuse systems, rainwater harvesting at household level, etc.), respond sufficiently to the multiple and different needs of the settlement typologies in the region and help them to improve their adaptive capacity toward any potential changes (especially climate and demographic ones).