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Banking on Groundwater in Times of Change


Climate and other drivers of change raise questions about the continued reliance on surface water resources, prompting countries to fundamentally rethink groundwater management strategies.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has issued Water Policy Brief 32, titled «Banking on Groundwater in Times of Change». The findings are in line with «Managing the water buffer for development and climate change adaptation».

Key findings are:

• A range of technical options are available for groundwater recharge. Technology aside, a managed recharge strategy strongly implies a shift to conjunctive management of surface water and groundwater.
• Groundwater storage offers a number of unique benefits, including potentially wider, more reliable and equitable access.
• Groundwater storage – whether it is underused or overexploited – creates opportunities for adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate change and offers attractive and innovative solutions to complex water allocation problems.
  

 Banking on Groundwater in Times of Change [PDF, 682 kbyte]