THE WATER SUPPLY OF OASIS BY ALBIAN FOGGARA: AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN DEGRADATION

Abstract

This paper discusses a type of foggara most common in the Algerian Sahara. This is the Albian foggara. Currently, 820 foggaras a total length exceeding 2000 km and exploit the Intercalary Continental aquifer on the periphery of the Tadmait plate; real water tower of foggaras. The distribution of water from the Albian foggaras between farmers obeys the volumetric method. The gardens are irrigated at the same time; we talk about irrigation in parallel. For cons, the Moroccan khettara obeys the temporary method, the gardens are irrigated turn after turn, and we speak of a linear irrigation. For the Albian foggara, the kasria (comb diverter) is considered as the boundary between the upstream (extraction) and downstream (distribution). The kasria is considered as the essential element of social organization. The investigations that we conducted in the oases of Touat and Gourara in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015 have shown that cultural heritage is increasingly abandoned because of technical problems and socioeconomic.