ICARDA CARAVAN 11

Tunneling for Survival


A small and poor village faces the grim prospect of being abandoned if neglect and lack of money is allowed to destroy a 1500-year old water supply system which is its lifeline. ICARDA is monitoring how the experiences of the villagers of Shallalah Saghirah can be used to help other communities to manage their fragile water supplies sustainably.

hallalah Saghirah ("little waterfall") is a small village  of about 20 households located in the Khanasser valley, in northern Syria. The village has no electricity and still uses an ancient 'qanat' system as its main source of water.
         In Syria many ancient qanat/irrigation systems have been abandoned due to falling water tables caused mainly by the increased use of modern electric- and diesel-pumped wells. Hydrological research shows the diesel-pumped wells located in the Khanasser valley do not affect Shallalah Saghirah yet, but many shafts and water collection points of the qanat system are filled with debris that has accumulated over the years. Due to lack of maintenance the water flow has reduced considerably.
         Urgent renovation is necessary so the village doesn't lose its main source of water. Some elderly residents, who are experts on the qanat system, and their sons have expressed willingness to spend time and use their expertise and labor in the renovation of the qanat. However, the villagers are resource-poor and must seek outside help for the estimated renovation costs of $10,000 for the low-cost material to restore the qanat system which was originally constructed in the late Roman or early Byzantine period.
          This renovation of the 520-metres qanat is part of applied anthropological action research being implemented by ICARDA at village level. Through intensive fieldwork and scrutiny of earlier studies--a

By
Joshka Wessels

similar exercise was carried out in Oman--methods of renovating these ancient systems using low-cost modern technologies are being investigated. Renovation and cleaning of the qanat will not only be based on specialized knowledge on qanat systems but also on the local expertise and direct needs and priorities of the villagers. Their active involvement and responsibility in planning, implementation and utilization are integral parts of the action research project.
          Ultimately the project aims to generate more agricultural income at village level and also enhance the efficient use of water for agriculture. Moreover it will directly save water costs for the village if, through the renovation effort, more water is harvested. Shallalah Saghirah is not primarily an agricultural village, although many villagers do grow barley, vegetables and fruit trees to supplement income from outside jobs.

The small irrigated area (center) at Shallalah Saghirah provides a vital supplement to the incomes of villagers. On the slopes to the left are the remains of Roman-era terracing where the water supply has been allowed to dry up.

Qanat Facts


A qanat is a tunnel, perhaps many kilometers long, which taps water where it concentrates in the ground and leads it to the surface. The tunnel gradient must be less than that of either the water table below ground, or the ground's surface. The design of the tunnels therefore has to be very precise, and they require regular maintenance. But they operate without any mechanical device.
Qanats are thought to have originated in the area that is now northern Iran but the technology was later carried as far afield as western China, to Spain where they are known as galerias, and subsequently to South America by the Spanish. Iran has by far the greatest number of working qanats--in excess of 20,000--and was building new qanats until relatively recently. However, with the exception of Oman, in particular, qanats have largely fallen into disuse in most Arab countries.

        Renovation of the qanat may increase water discharge from one liter per second to 1.5-2 liters/sec, thereby securing domestic supplies for 150 people but also potentially allowing more water to be used for crop irrigation. ICARDA scientists are carefully documenting the existing system of water allocation and rights so this can be continued and conflict avoided when the additional water becomes available.
        Next to its importance for the on-going anthropological research, which will monitor the value and use of the qanat in a modern environment, the actual renovation is a contribution to the cultural heritage of Syria in terms of developing the sustainable use of ancient irrigation systems for agriculture. There are perhaps 250 qanat systems remaining in Syria, none of which is in full working order. Syrian experts, as well as scientists from a number of US, Middle Eastern and French universities, are assisting with the project.

Ms Joshka Wessels is an Associate Expert - Applied Anthropology with ICARDA's Natural Resource Management Program.

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