Sustainable Groundwater Development

Groundwater provides over half of the world’s population with domestic water supplies. In places where it is readily available, and of good quality, groundwater can be a reliable resource. Groundwater storage is extensive in many places, and acts as a natural buffer against climate variability. However, the quantities that can be abstracted are unevenly distributed, and yields vary.

In many countries, there has been a significant switch from using unprotected surface water to protected groundwater. Groundwater scarcity and pollution are major concerns in some parts of the world. Some governments and agencies are attempting to move away from handpump-based supplies to piped schemes fed by motorised (including solar) pumping. Alas, inadequate appreciation of groundwater potential is likely lead to under-performance and failure of these supplies. Greater efforts are required to fully assess and evaluate groundwater potential and associated risks.