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Groundwater key to sustainability of world water supplies

Groundwater is the key to affordable, safe water supplies globally, but it must be managed responsibly to fulfill its promise, according to an international declaration adopted January 29, 2006, at the International Symposium on Groundwater Sustainability in Alicante, Spain.

The Alicante pronouncement is based, in large part, on NGWA's "Declaration of the Global Importance of Ground Water" approved by the NGWA Board in December 2005.

Groundwater, makes up more than 95 percent of the global, unfrozen fresh water reserves.

"Given its vast reserves and broad geographical distribution, its general good quality, and its resilience to seasonal fluctuations and contamination, groundwater holds the promise to ensure current and future world communities an affordable and safe water supply," the Alicante Declaration reads.

"Instances of poorly managed groundwater, development and the inadvertent impact of inadequate land-use practices have produced adverse effects," the declaration continues. These adverse effects include water-quality degradation, impairment of aquatic ecosystems, and lowered groundwater levels. The latter has caused problems such as land subsidence and the drying of wetlands.

NGWA Science and Technology Director Stephen Ragone, Ph.D., said the Alicante Declaration is significant because it spotlights groundwater's importance to people around the world.

"The purpose of the Alicante Declaration is to increase awareness of the important role groundwater plays in the hydrologic cycle and to society," Ragone said. "It identifies actions for hydrogeologic community to help ensure that water resources will be managed more efficiently and effectively."

As a continuation of the emphasis begun at Alicante, the Royal Academy of Spain convened a session on groundwater during the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City on March 16-22, 2006. NGWA and Instituto Geologico y Minero de EspaÑa were conveners of the session.

The Alicante Declaration also recommends the following actions:

Develop more comprehensive water-management, land-use, and energy-development strategies that fully recognize groundwater's important role in the hydrologic cycle
Develop comprehensive understanding of groundwater rights, regulations, policy, and uses
Make the maintenance and restoration of hydrologic balance a long-term goal of regional water-management strategies
Improve scientific, engineering, and applied technological expertise in developing countries
Establish ongoing coordinated surface water and groundwater monitoring programs
Develop local institutions to improve sustainable groundwater management
Ensure that citizens recognize groundwater's essential role in their community and the importance of its responsible use.

Read more about the The Alicante Declaration.

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