The Foggara, an Irrigation and Water Consumption System in the Algerian Sahara: Traditional, Rational, Sustainable, and Environmentally Conservative.

Abstract (English)

Is it possible to imagine existence without water? Could humans continue to live without this vital substance?
The relationship between humans and water is vital, eternal, complex, and intertwined, because human life is inextricably linked to the presence of water. Societies that have existed in the past, those living in the present, and those that will exist in the future could not have existed without the availability of this natural resource. Therefore, the issue of water is a constant concern for all countries and social entities. They allocate enormous sums of money and considerable effort to obtain water by various means, and many are working to develop strategies for the permanent and continuous acquisition of this natural resource, which is considered the origin of life and the foundation of human civilization.
From this perspective, and within the session entitled "Hydro-Sociology: Theories, Methods, and Technics for Working with Water and Population," we propose our research paper entitled "The Foggara, an Irrigation and Water Consumption System in the Algerian Sahara: Traditional, Rational, Sustainable, and Environmentally Conservative." Through this paper, we will explore a traditional method used to extract water from the ground in a harsh environment, both in terms of climate and terrain. This method, locally called "foggara", can be considered the basis of the existence of population centers, representing hundreds of oases and ancient Ksours (desert cities), which emerged through the adoption of this traditional natural mechanism, which required only the efforts and physical effort of the population to accomplish. It also required the wisdom and sobriety of community leaders to manage it economically, fairly, and equitably, through a working class known as "water collectors." These are self-made professionals with high skills in managing and distributing irrigation and drinking water with great precision, in a fair and equal manner between farmers and populations. This profession was recognized by UNESCO as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage Site in 2018.
Through this research paper, we aim to highlight this social, cultural, and economic heritage, which has enabled humans to become accustomed to harsh nature and difficult climatic conditions by using their intellect and muscular effort to explore and extract groundwater sources without any negative impact on nature. Through the foggara water, humans have been able to consolidate the continuity of life and the stability of societies through the social bond established within the process of socialization, in which water is a central issue.