Theme 2: Groundwater in a Changing Environment
Groundwater is a significant component of the hydrogeological cycle and aquifers are an important hydrological unit. Globally, groundwater represents 98 % of the Earth’s unfrozen freshwater. In nature, groundwater drives many geological and geochemical processes and sustains various ecological functions and services. Groundwater should be integrated with economic, social and environmental dimensions of water resources. Many people depend upon groundwater for potable water and for ensuring food security and sustainable living. Groundwater may also be considered a safe source of drinking water in arid and semi-arid regions and small islands and in emergency situations.
The use of groundwater has significantly increased over the last 50 years due to its widespread occurrence, high reliability during drought seasons, mostly good quality, major advances in hydrogeological knowledge, development of modern drilling and pumping technologies and generally modest development costs. In previous IHP phases, groundwater programmes and projects improved knowledge of groundwater and aquifers worldwide. Collaboration with the GEF as well as with other UN organizations, scientific institutions and universities contributed to improvement of the knowledge of groundwater and its resources and aquifers worldwide.
As a result of these collaborative scientific activities, a fairly good understanding exists about shallow aquifers, methods of groundwater resources assessment and development, artificial recharge, groundwater pollution, and methodology of hydrogeological mapping. However, we still face many challenges: the complexity of aquifer systems, the increasing global risk to groundwater depletion, quality deterioration and pollution, growing demand for groundwater resources for drinking and other uses, potential influence of climate change on groundwater system, and resilience of communities and populations dependent on groundwater sources. These challenges call for comprehensive research and studies, implementation of new science-based methodologies and endorsement of principles for integrated management and environmentally sound protection of groundwater resources.
Focal Areas
For more information on each focal area and the implementation plan, please follow the links below:
Implementation Matrices for Theme 2 Focal Areas
- Focal area 2.1 - Enhancing sustainable groundwater resources management
- Focal area 2.2 - Addressing strategies for management of aquifers recharge
- Focal area 2.3 - Adapting to the impacts of climate change on aquifer systems
- Focal area 2.4 - Promoting groundwater quality protection
- Focal area 2.5 - Promoting management of transboundary aquifers