Oman sees significant drop in amount of rainfall recorded last year

Muscat: The amount of rainfall recorded in Oman in 2017 was significantly lower than previous years, according to measurement stations of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources.
The average rainfall recorded was 93 mm in 2017, compared to 117 mm in 2016.
The volume of surface water flow in the Sultanate in 2017 was estimated at 73 million cubic metres, which is the lowest level it has been in seven years. The highest amount of wadi flows was about 22 million cubic metres in Muscat Governorate.
Groundwater recharge dams, which amount to 47 dams in Oman, have contributed to a reserve of 21 million cubic metres of water, representing about 29 per cent of the total surface flow during 2017, which is the lowest amount in five years.
The groundwater levels at select observation wells, as well as the Aflaj flows have maintained their previous levels, especially in mountainous areas (recharge areas), in the governorates of the Al Dakhiliyah, North and South Al Sharqiyah, Muscat, mountainous parts of North and South Al Batinah, Buraimi and Al Dhahirah. In contrast, parts of plains far from recharge areas still suffer from low groundwater levels.
In Dhofar Governorate, groundwater recharge rates during the autumn season of 2017 were less than those recorded in 2016.