Groundwater
Groundwater is endangered in many part of the world as a result of over-exploitation and pollution, largely driven by unconstrained urbanisation and continued pressure to increase irrigation use. The lack of or insufficient management of groundwater resources has been attributed to the limited information that exists on aquifer systems and their water storage; the unwillingness or limited capacity of water managers to monitor groundwater abstraction and discharges of contaminants from economic activities and sanitation systems; the inadequacy of the law in protecting the resource; and a general belief that groundwater is endless because it cannot be seen. Nonetheless, growing commitment to improve groundwater management is illustrated, for instance in the Africa region, by capacity development through professional courses that are provided by the African Groundwater Network and which are a forum for surface and groundwater specialist to talk, and by the creation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, which is charged with managing groundwater and has made efforts to adopt the draft UN Articles for use and management of transboundary
groundwater. The management solutions and the information necessary to sustain groundwater as a resource are increasingly available, even in developing countries. Management needs to seek equitable access by all vested interests and address inconsistencies between energy, credit and pricing, and water policies. Prevention of groundwater resources pollution will always be preferable to treatment and remediation. While new technologies for remediation of polluted groundwater are becoming available, they are typically expensive and require long periods for full implementation.
groundwater. The management solutions and the information necessary to sustain groundwater as a resource are increasingly available, even in developing countries. Management needs to seek equitable access by all vested interests and address inconsistencies between energy, credit and pricing, and water policies. Prevention of groundwater resources pollution will always be preferable to treatment and remediation. While new technologies for remediation of polluted groundwater are becoming available, they are typically expensive and require long periods for full implementation.
