Groundwater and Water Resources Management: GKnowledge Gap and Research Need

A. Das GuptaEmeritus Professor

AIT B k k Th il dAIT, Bangkok, Thailand

Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWF)

LAUNCH MEETINGRegional Water Knowledge Hub for Groundwater Management

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g g g

Plaza Athenee Bangkok, 2-3 June 2011

Planning Meeting on the Regional Water KnowledgePlanning Meeting on the Regional Water Knowledge Hub for Groundwater Management of Asia-Pacific

Water Forum (APWF) ( )

Yokohama, Japan, 12-13 July 2010

Should play a leading role in the region by creating knowledge based products, implementing joint research with partners and clients, and also through

capacity development activities

An immediate need to focus on output oriented activities such as baseline information collection, comparative case studies, and development of

groundwater database for the region

2Lack of awareness is still a major issue in groundwater management, and

capacity development activities should focus on all levels from general users, managers, to policy and decision makers

The Way ForwardThe Way Forward...........K l d & U d t di t b d l d i b d• Knowledge & Understanding to be developed in a broader context (potential & use, quantity and quality, governance & management)management)

• Identify strategically‐important aspects 

related to different functions

Available GWR: water volume (storage); waterGovernance & Management

( g )flow (GW recharge)GW Development & Use: sectorial use; evaluation of behavior of GW system (past & future – scenario

Available  Groundwater Resource

analysis); address emergence of any adverse impact GW Dependent Ecosystems: ecological health (springs, wetlands, coastal lagoons etc);

G &Groundwater Development 

& Use

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

natural GW quality & susceptibility to pollutionGovernance & Management: GW (“common property”, “highly decentralized”) – requires

ti i t ’ ti i ti

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proactive society’s participation

Leading to Sustainable Groundwater Development & Management……

Why we need to talk about sustainable yGWD&M?

Three Realities……..• The climate and the consequent supply of water is becomingThe climate and the consequent supply of water is becoming 

more variable – whether due to global warming or not!!!!

…………the reality is we need to deal with the increasing level of uncertainty & variability how we do that?????

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uncertainty & variability……how we do that????? 

Why we need to talk about sustainable yGWD&M? (2)

• Secondly, the demand for water increasing …….certainly pressing the system with socio‐economic growthp g y g

……in many countries, domestic water use is currently less that 25……in many countries, domestic water use is currently less that 25 l/person

• Thirdly, concern for the environment!!!!! 

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How to deal with the problems the psociety is facing due to these realities? 

• To address the increasing level of uncertainty & variability need adequate storage what we can dovariability…..need adequate storage, what we can do to have more storage???  

most water storage available is in the ground…..most water storage available is in the ground

…..Why then we have not made use of this ?storage?

…..Lack of knowledge & lack of Research and gDevelopment (R&D)

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How to deal with the problems the psociety is facing due to these realities? 

• To address the increasing demand from socio‐economic growth need recognizing vast majorityeconomic growth…..need recognizing vast majority of public water use is non‐consumptive goes as waste water….  

…..very little reused… 

h ld h b h f d?…..What would then be the way forward?

…..Strategically mainstreaming recycling & reusing g y g y g gwaste water for beneficial use in specific sectors 

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How to deal with the problems the psociety is facing due to these realities? • To address the environmental concern…..must aim for some 

form of sustainability……..However,  

…..we need to decide what is that we are trying to sustain???y g

…..Is the target for sustainability the groundwater as a source of public supply?p pp y

…..Yes, then use safe yield or sustainable yield concept

…..Is it the groundwater for its own sake? g

…..Initially it appears to be not, but Yes,…risk of pollution makes the resource vulnerable….on long‐term basis geffects the water supply &

…..another aspect: groundwater dependent ecosystems

8…..In conclusion, both resource itself and its function 

Groundwater Knowledge Systems: g yIdentifying Gaps (1)

• Developed in line with ”exploration approach” to d t d l tgroundwater development

• Regulatory mechanism... based on a national and regional level aggregate picture...often glosses over the dynamics of ‘resources and people’ at the ground level

• Some consensus developing on using a participatory, p g g p p y,community backed regulation, based on social and anthropogenic perspectives rather that on theanthropogenic perspectives rather that on the essence of formal ‘law’ 

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Groundwater Knowledge Systems: g yIdentifying Gaps (2)

• The main gap in implementation of the formal and informal types of regulation lies in the absence of knowledge, yp g g ,information and data on groundwater in general and aquifers in particular (issues related to the units and scale of assessment)assessment)   

• More detailed mapping exercises required based on the physical system and usephysical system and use

• Alluvial systems...recharge cycles at a regional scale and on a different time scale; Crystalline formations.. recharge systems 

d b l l & d l d b dtends to be local & depletion tends to be more pronounced; Mountain systems...tend to have extremely localized recharge 

• Focus away from ‘exploratory approach” to “inclusive• Focus away from  exploratory approach  to  inclusive approach” in developing knowledge base   

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Aquifer Management: An Innovative q gFramework (1)

• Institutional innovations, especially in terms of new rules, laws, or ways of thinking about groundwater, , , y g g ,aquifers, demand and supply systems, seems to be absolutely essential

• The groundwater typologies are not just entities in physical space....go with a historically governed 

f d d h i lpattern of access to groundwater and the social processes that regulate its use

d l h b• Groundwater typologies have, in essence become a socio‐physical category......such a detailed understanding is missing in the current knowledgeunderstanding is missing in the current knowledge systems on groundwater

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Aquifer Management: An Innovative q gFramework (2)

• A re‐articulation of the legal framework on groundwater neededgroundwater needed.  

• Command & Controlmechanism, as practiced has very little chance of success in many cases 

• Co‐operative Management by the user communitiesCo operative Management by the user communities is the option   

I tit ti l I ti C itInstitutional Innovations: Community Participation & ActionParticipation & Action

Dynamics of the availability of groundwater should be id d d i bl i ld l

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considered and a sustainable yield management goal set accordingly 

Safe Yield (To) Sustainable YieldSafe Yield  (To)  Sustainable Yield• Safe Yield concept: average annual rate of groundwater withdrawal 

not exceeding the average annual rate of natural recharge (misperception)

S‐R R+ Q R+ Q+

SS‐‐S‐ D‐‐

D D‐

S

Natural Conditions Stable Groundwater Unsustainable GroundwaterNatural ConditionsIn the long run R = D

& S is constant

Stable GroundwaterPumping

Q is equivalent to reduction in D & S plus increase in R

Unsustainable GroundwaterPumping

Q+ is greater than R+ plus D--

(which reduces to zero) and S--

decreases continuouslydecreases continuously

• Sustainable Yield concept: groundwater withdrawal regime that can be maintained indefinitely without causing unacceptable 

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environmental, economic, or social consequences Foster, S. et al (2006) Characterization of Groundwater Systems-Key concepts and Frequent Misconception, BriefingNote Series No.2, Sustainable Groundwater Management: Concepts & Tools, GW-MATE, World Bank

Governance & ManagementGovernance & Management

Artificial Recharge(Irrigation loses, 

Wastewater returns)

Natural Recharge(Excess rainfall, 

Surface water seepage)

Indirect Recharge(Aquitard leakage, Cross‐formational

flo )

Legislation StrategicPlanning

flow)

Aquifer Storage q g(Groundwater Resources)

Sustainable Groundwater Development (Sustainable Groundwater Development (SGwDSGwD))Public

ParticipationAdministrative

Set‐up Sustainable Groundwater Development (Sustainable Groundwater Development (SGwDSGwD))

Economic BenefitsEconomic Benefits Environmental Benefits Human Benefits

ParticipationSet up

Water for l

Water for Environment

Water for People Monitoring &Institutional Role Development

(Agriculture & Industry)(Springs, Surface Water,Wetlands, Coastal Zone)

People(Drinking Water, Sanitation

and Livelihood)

Monitoring &Evaluation

Institutional Role& Responsibility

Conceptual Approach to Achieve SGwD balancing Recharge Inputs to Aquifer Storage plus Change in Storage against Discharge Outputs for Economic, Environmental and Human Benefits with Proper Governance & Management

(modified from Hiscock et al, 2002)

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Hiscock, K.M., Rivett, M.O. & Davison, R.M. (2002). Sustainable Groundwater Development, In Hiscock, K.M., Rivett, M.O. & Davison, R.M. (Eds) Sustainable Groundwater Development, 

Geological Society of London, Special Publication, 193: 1‐14.

What are the essentials to be determined for sustainable groundwater management?

• The size & complexity of the groundwater resources

• The degree of climatic aridity, the rate of aquifer recharge  & resource renewal 

• The scale of groundwater extraction, the number & type of groundwater usersg

• The ecological role & environmental services dependent on groundwatergroundwater

• The susceptibility & vulnerability of the aquifer system to degradationdegradation

• Natural groundwater quality concerns (trace element hazard and saline water presence)

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and saline water presence)

What then one needs to know for proper groundwater management?

G d t t• Groundwater storage

• Aquifer type, climate & water supply optionsAquifer type, climate & water supply options

• Groundwater flow

• Groundwater recharge & discharge

h b l• The water balance

• Natural groundwater quality• Natural groundwater quality

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Available GroundwaterR

Observed & Resource

Storage volumeNatural rechargeArtificial recharge

Governance & Management

Predicted State of Groundwater 

Systemg

Indirect recharge PumpingWater levelDrawdown

Water quality

Management

Knowledge BaseStrategic planning

Legislation & Groundwater Development & 

Use

Water  qualityDischarge to ecosystemOther 

environmental

gImplementationStakeholder’s participation Monitoring & 

DomesticAgricultureIndustryEcosystem

environmental consequences  assessment

Assessment of the state of the system based on criteria on 

pumping, water level, d d t litdrawdown, water quality, 

discharge, & other environmental elements 

Groundwater Development Trend Sustainable

Is observed trend 

acceptable ?Yes No

Indicator (s) for Sustainable Development

Policy‐level Recommendation

17Overall Framework of Assessment for Sustainable GW Dev. & Mgmt.

Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Knowledge g g p g gSystems on Groundwater (1)

• How education and research that provide support to professionals in water sector, looks at Groundwater?

• Current knowledge systems: Engineering; Science‐H d l d S i l S i d l i h d iHydrogeology and Social Science...... deal with groundwater in isolation in each of these disciplines

Wh t i d d i bi ti f di i li th t ill• What is needed is a combination of disciplines that will provide an understanding of “typology” of groundwater resourcesresources

• The discordance between current knowledge systems and systems required to tackle groundwater managementsystems required to tackle groundwater management challenges on the ground 

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Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Knowledge g g p g gSystems on Groundwater (2)

The gap between what is on education menu and what is required

Ref: Kulkarni, H and Shankar P.S.V. (2009) Groundwater Knowledge Systems in India: N d f F h L k W ki P SIID 8 C ll b ti R h P j t

Is wide, to say the least!!!!!

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Need for a Fresh Look, Working Paper SIID 8, Collaborative Research Project on Systems of Innovation for Inclusive Development: Lessons from Rural China and India,Supported by International Development Research Council (IDRC), Canada.

Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Knowledge g g p g gSystems on Groundwater (3)

• Current research programs include topics like groundwater management assessment ongroundwater management, assessment on groundwater resource availability, delineation of recharge and discharge areas, pumping and aquiferrecharge and discharge areas, pumping and aquifer response, coastal groundwater systems, arsenic contamination in groundwater, groundwater data set, mathematical modeling, simulation and optimization techniques .......

• Evidence to show whether such research is finding way into application on the ground

• Need to see the linkages between good research and its application in groundwater management field 

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R h IdResearch Ideas

• Develop methodologies and tools for risk and vulnerability assessment of groundwater over‐y gextraction and quality deterioration to human security

• Develop tools to facilitate management strategies for multiple use of groundwater in urban areas with due 

id i i d liconsideration to quantity and quality aspect • Develop methodologies and tools to understand, 

l d d h f l hevaluate and predict the impacts of climate change on groundwater resource and interlinked surface water and ecosystems in order to eventually definewater and ecosystems in order to eventually define climate robust set of measures

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C l di R kConcluding Remarks

• Overexploitation of groundwater is a reality,  a critical review of groundwater management agenda based on enhanced multidisciplinary knowledgebase and innovative systemsmultidisciplinary knowledgebase and innovative systems needed

• A review of current methodology of assessment of gygroundwater resources, with aquifer as the basis and its dynamic behaviorC h i i f if d it i t• Comprehensive mapping of aquifers and monitoring at appropriate scales in various hydrogeological settings needed

• Develop typologies of groundwater resources as the basis for• Develop typologies of groundwater resources as the basis for national level groundwater management program

• Prioritization of domestic water security within a strategy to y gyimplement the groundwater management program

• Setting up a robust and transparent groundwater data ll ti d h i h i i l d i i

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collection and sharing mechanisms, mainly as decision support tool in program implementation and monitoring  

h k h Thank you very much f for

Att tiyour Attention

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