From the “isolated states” to the central place system(s): water supply of the cities in modern Libya

Relevance. Libya has been struggling with fresh water shortages for much of its history. This issue started to be resolved only after significant underground water reserves were discovered in the southern part of the country in the late 1960s. From 1970 to 2010, the country became one of the world leaders in terms of water consumption per capita.Research objective. The study aims to evaluate compliance adopted and proposed solutions for developing the water supply system for urban settlements and agricultural enterprises in Libya, implemented during Muammar Gaddafi's leadership, align with the canonical theories of Spatial Science.Data and method. Methodologically, the study relies on the principles of the isolated state theory and the central place theory. The transformation of the water supply structure in Libya studies within the evolutionary approach on using the example of agricultural projects and settlement projects in the Kufra region, as well as the “Great Man-Made River” project.Results. Each state farm in Libya represents a quasi “isolated state” which is the first stage in the development of the country's water supply system. However, it only becomes a system in the proper sense at the second stage, with the emergence of private farms in settlements: central place systems with one (rarely two) levels of hierarchy arise “from” the rural areas. The transition to the third stage—the formation of a full-fledged central place system—was made possible by the “Great Man-Made River” project.Conclusions. The water supply systems for the population and economy of Libya in their current form are characterized by fairly high spatial stability. The government’s decision to merge the previously separate water supply systems of Al-Kufra – Sirt / Benghazi and Hasouna – Sahl Jefara through the “Great Man-Made River” project was quite reasonable. Equally prudent was the choice to maintain the Ghadames – Zwara – Zawia system as an isolated entity. However, the project to extend the water pipeline from Ajdabiya to Tobruk, which is currently less than 1% complete, should be discontinued. Instead, it would be more practical to revisit the previously rejected plan to supply freshwater to the cities along Libya's eastern coast from the local underground sources.