A noticeable recession in the levels of the Nile River in several Sudanese areas has brought the issue of water security and the impacts of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam back to the forefront of attention, after video clips documented the retreat of water and the emergence of vast areas of banks and sand within the riverbed, in scenes described by citizens as unusual at this time of year.

The phenomenon extended from Khartoum to River Nile State and then to the Northern State, amid questions about whether the decline is due to natural seasonal change or related to the management and operation of dams in the Nile Basin.

This coincided with an announcement by the Khartoum State Water Authority that the water scarcity crisis in the areas of North Bahri is due to the recession of the Nile waters from the intake of the main station, confirming the operation of two high-pressure pumps to boost supplies and mitigate the impact of the crisis on residents, in the first official indication of the repercussions of the declining levels.

Widespread concerns

In the Al-Bajrawiya area in River Nile State, citizens documented the water receding by nearly 15 meters, while video clips from Aranti Island opposite the city of Abri in the Northern State showed the emergence of sandy tongues in the middle of the river. Residents said that parts of the riverbed have become crossable on foot, raising farmers' concerns about potential impacts on irrigation if the decline continues.

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This development acquires special importance because it comes with the start of the rainy season on the Ethiopian Plateau, the period during which the inflow of the Blue Nile, the main source of Nile water in Sudan during the flood season, usually begins to rise.

Former Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Dr. Othman Al-Toum, told Al-Arabiya.net that the operation of the Renaissance Dam has changed the pattern of Blue Nile flows compared to what it was before the dam's construction.

A circulated video documenting the recession of Nile waters on Aranti Island opposite the city of Abri in northern Sudan

Water impoundment

He explained that Ethiopia begins during this period to impound quantities of water, while discharge is limited to what is sufficient to operate a limited number of turbines, coinciding with the start of filling the Jebel Aulia reservoir lake south of Khartoum, which is reflected in the Nile levels within Sudan.

In contrast, Dr. Al-Fateh Yas, a researcher in environmental and sustainable development issues, believes that the current decline may be part of the natural cycle of the river, explaining that July and August represent a transitional phase before the peak of rainwater from the Ethiopian Plateau arrives.

He added to Al-Arabiya.net that this interpretation does not exclude the impact of the dams' operation method, including the Renaissance Dam, on the amounts of water being passed, stressing that assessing the situation requires following up on developments in the rainy season over the coming weeks.

Despite the wide scope of the phenomenon, the competent authorities have not issued a comprehensive official explanation for its causes, while interpretations range between seasonal factors and the impact of dam operation. Specialists believe that the decline in levels during a specific period does not necessarily mean the start of a water crisis, but it warrants follow-up, especially given its direct effects on drinking water and agriculture supplies, pending clarity on the course of the flood season in the coming weeks.

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