Syria is considered a dry or semi-dry country distinguished by the scarcity of water sources in general and unbalanced distribution of localities and consequently they are not in harmony with the distribution of population. This exposes these sources to great quantitative and quantitative pressures which results in great demand on water that exceeds the available quantities in some areas.

In Syria there is a relatively dense hydrographical network if we take into consideration the fact that three thirds of Syrian areas are dry. This network comprises several permanent and temporary running rivers (several months) and valleys with seasonal flow (a few days). These are centered in the western and northwester areas of Syria. In general the network can be classified in accordance with the natural system to three categories:

1. Permanently running rivers: These are 24 rivers, three of which are tributaries to major rivers. An example of permanently running rivers are: The Euphrates, Tigris, The Great Northern River, Yarmouk and others.
2. Temporarily running rivers: (running for a few months): These are more than fifty rivers centered at the Western Area (the basins of the coastal area, Tigris and Yarmouk), and some others at the Euphrates basins like the rivers of Snoubar, Haweez and AlHosn and others.
3. Seasonal floods: They run on a seasonal basis (for a few days) and are spread in big numbers in all the country but are centered in the Northern and Easter areas of Syria.

The volume of available surface water resources in Syria is estimated at 11515 billion cubic meters (with the exception of its share of the Tigris). It is worthwhile mentioning that the Syrian surface water resources in Syria comprise 60% of the overall resources excluding the expected Syria’s share of the Tigress (and 67% inclusive). The present status, however, refers to a quantitative deterioration of several rivers to the extent that some of them dry seasonally (Barada, Khabour, Aawag and most coastal rivers and others). Also, the beds of some of these rivers are converted into drainage channels of liquid and solid waste as it is the case in Tartous where there are 350 waste drainages that run in rivulets, valleys and rivers, and part of it runs to the mouth of the sea.

Water studies have referred to the presence of ground waters in most rocky masses that were displaced in the Syrian territory. Studies also have shown that the quantity, quality and depth of these waters depend on the nature of rocks that carry the water, their physical qualities, their geographical distribution and their location. Water aquifers in Syria can be categorized in three major groups:

1. Cracked Carbonate and karstic rocks which contains a low-salt water in general of 250 and 500 milligram/liter. These water aquifers are characterized by high productivity and they cater for hundreds of springs of big mouths (such as Al-Feejeh, Al-Sin, Ain Arous). They spread particularly at the Syrian coastal areas and the valleys of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Upper Jazeera, the Palmyrian Mountain Range. They lie at relatively great depths averaging 200 to 250 meters.
2. Detritus rocks which form porous mediums and contain water of good quality in general. The production of these rocks is less than that of the later ones and contain water levels between 10 and 80 meters. These rocks are spread in the detritus valleys (such as Damascus Ghouta, Al-Jazerah) as well as intermountain basins and valleys (such as Jairoud, Al-Dow) and river terraces.
3. Igneous rocks which widely spread in the southwest of Syria and partly in Homs, Al-Jazeera. These rocks are made of Basalt which contains water in its cracks or in the sand lenses found among the different basalt layers. These basalt water aquifers are characterized by the good quality of its waters (150-300 milligram/liter) and the water flow in its wells (5-15 liter/second) according to the degree of cleavage and according to the depth of water areas (from 20-300 meters).

Ground waters in all locations and aquifers are subject to great exhaustion manifested in great drop of water levels in most water basins (more than 60 at Oteibah in Damascus basin, for example). It is also manifested in the dryness of some water springs (springs at Damascus Valley like Kallaya and Ras Al-Ein), and also in drop in other springs (like Mzeireeb at Al-Yarmouk basin). It should be mentioned that the drop in water levels and the exhaustion of water aquifers at Ras El-Ein area resulted in great drop in soil since the water mediums which supply Ras El-Ein are cracked and krastic.

The overall agricultural and industrial charge which forms what is termed non traditional water resources have been estimated by the Ministry of Irrigation for the years 2003-2004 by 3526 billion cubic meters. These are sources that naturally increase due to increased demand on water one year after the other. Since charged water is the most spread all over the country, it is consequently the first source of contamination for surface and ground and soil. Therefore the treatment of drainage water was given priority by the state for protecting environment.