Integrated Groundwater Management: Concepts, Approaches and Challenges
Date issued
August 2017
In
Groundwater
Vol
4
No
55
From page
12539
To page
12541
Reviewed by peer
1
Abstract
Groundwater is a hidden, yet essential resource in all climatic zones.
It is the most important global source of drinking water and industrial production and mining operations rely on it heavily. Groundwater constitutes approximately 50% of worldwide irrigation water, which greatly increases the efficiency of agriculture. A wide range of valuable ecosystems relies exclusively on groundwater. However, the days of unconcerned use of groundwater are long over. Groundwater depletion and pollution worldwide have reached a level so critical that the above-mentioned functions of groundwater can no longer be maintained or guaranteed for current (let alone future) generations.
It is the most important global source of drinking water and industrial production and mining operations rely on it heavily. Groundwater constitutes approximately 50% of worldwide irrigation water, which greatly increases the efficiency of agriculture. A wide range of valuable ecosystems relies exclusively on groundwater. However, the days of unconcerned use of groundwater are long over. Groundwater depletion and pollution worldwide have reached a level so critical that the above-mentioned functions of groundwater can no longer be maintained or guaranteed for current (let alone future) generations.
Publication type
review
File(s)