Assessing And Managing Groundwater In Different Environments

This collection of papers is a snapshot of modern hydrogeology in which highly technical methods and approaches sit side-by-side with overlapping legal, social, organisational, institutional and governance considerations. Groundwater is integral to many human and environmental systems. Indeed, there appears to be a growing realisation that some of the most pressing physical problems in the field of hydrogeology - over-abstraction, salinization or pollution - can only really be solved by taking a multi-disciplinary approach to the issues that takes all other related professions into account. Whilst a ‘technical’ solution may be readily deciphered, the larger challenge usually lies in the sustainably-funded and widely-accepted implementation of that measure. This book ranges from discussion and debate on the hot topic of hydraulic fracturing of wells or ‘fraccing’ for shale gas and its potential to disrupt groundwater systems, to the application of highly technical modelling procedures to help solve complex, real world problems. It is a window on the preoccupations of modern hydrogeologists and an insight into the way in which hydrogeological techniques and methods are being holistically adapted to address problems in the real world. This book is targeted at professional hydrogeologists, sociologists, experts in governance, law and policy as well as ecologists and other professionals that nowadays all sit alongside groundwater understanding. The book will also appeal to politicians, resource managers, regulators and others interested in sustainable water supply.

THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF GROUNDWATER IN CANADA The Expert Panel on Groundwater Council of Canadian Academies Science Advice in the Public Interest Conseil des académies canadiennes THE COUNCIL OF CANADIAN ACADEMIES 180 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON Canada K2P 2K3 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was undertaken with the approval of the Board of Governors of the Council of Can [...] THE COUNCIL OF CANADIAN ACADEMIES Science Advice in the Public Interest The mandate of the Council of Canadian Academies (the Council) is to perform independent, expert assessments of the science that is relevant to important public issues. [...] The Council is governed by a 12-member board, a majority of whom are appointed directly or indirectly by the Council's three member Academies - the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada. [...] The founding members of the Council are: RSC: The Academy of the Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scientists, scholars and artists. [...] The Canadian Academy of Engineering comprises many of the country's most accomplished engineers, who have expressed their dedication to the application of science and engineering principles in the interests of the country and its enterprises.

The aim of this book is to document for the first time the dimensions and requirements of effective integrated groundwater management (IGM). Groundwater management is a formidable challenge, one that remains one of humanity’s foremost priorities. It has become a largely non-renewable resource that is overexploited in many parts of the world. In the 21st century, the issue moves from how to simply obtain the water we need to how we manage it sustainably for future generations, future economies, and future ecosystems. The focus then becomes one of understanding the drivers and current state of the groundwater resource, and restoring equilibrium to at-risk aquifers. Many interrelated dimensions, however, come to bear when trying to manage groundwater effectively. An integrated approach to groundwater necessarily involves many factors beyond the aquifer itself, such as surface water, water use, water quality, and ecohydrology. Moreover, the science by itself can only define the fundamental bounds of what is possible; effective IGM must also engage the wider community of stakeholders to develop and support policy and other socioeconomic tools needed to realize effective IGM. In order to demonstrate IGM, this book covers theory and principles, embracing: 1) an overview of the dimensions and requirements of groundwater management from an international perspective; 2) the scale of groundwater issues internationally and its links with other sectors, principally energy and climate change; 3) groundwater governance with regard to principles, instruments and institutions available for IGM; 4) biophysical constraints and the capacity and role of hydroecological and hydrogeological science including water quality concerns; and 5) necessary tools including models, data infrastructures, decision support systems and the management of uncertainty. Examples of effective, and failed, IGM are given. Throughout, the importance of the socioeconomic context that connects all effective IGM is emphasized. Taken as a whole, this work relates the many facets of effective IGM, from the catchment to global perspective.

This book is Volume 2 which is published to complement "Environmental Processes and Management: Tools and Practices" (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-38152-3), 2020 This book provides an in-depth, well-researched and science-based approach to applying key project management and spatial tools and practices in environmental projects. This book is an important read for leaders considering projects that balance social–economic growth against minimizing its ill effects on Planet Earth. This book brings together several aspects of groundwater engineering, as well as the formula and analytical approaches required for more informed decision-making. It also highlights the vital importance of understanding the technological, economic and social dimensions of environmental studies explained through dynamic approaches and illustrative figures that have short-term results and long-term impacts. This book emphasizes on encouraging the modern and vibrant research works conducted by young researchers across the world. This book clearly details the general application of fundamental groundwater processes, the character of the different types of systems in which they occur and the way in which these factors influence process dynamics, environmental systems and their possible remedies. The book sets a possible recommendation for the professionalism with which environmental research should be planned, executed, monitored, assessed and delivered. While primarily intended for professionals responsible for the management of groundwater projects or interested in improving the overall efficiency of such projects, it is also useful for managers in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. The book is a valuable resource for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition, this book serves as an indispensable guide for anyone willing to develop their skills in modern groundwater / environmental management and related techniques

Groundwater is sometimes called “the hidden asset” – awareness of its existence and its importance is not well known and as a consequence the measures which are required to protect and manage it in an environmental sustainable way are either not taken or are taken too late. Where pollution has occurred and measures are taken too late it may take decades, or longer, until the necessary restoration of quality is achieved. This comprehensive text presents in the following sections: Groundwater monitoring in the regulatory and international context Conceptual modelling and network design Groundwater pollutants and other pressures Groundwater quality standards and trend assessment Case studies for groundwater assessment and monitoring in the light of EU legislation Groundwater measurements Associating external stakeholders The editors have collected state-of-the-art information on groundwater quality assessment monitoring from the international community, providing further stimulation to the work of all parties involved in the challenges this area creates to ensure sound quality assessment of groundwater.

The book presents an overview of recent advances in knowledge related to the assessment and management of groundwater resources, giving special attention to the uncertainties related to climate change and variability. While proposing strategies of groundwater management as adaptation, alternative and resilience under the changing environments, this book also discusses new directions and initiatives of hydrological study, in particular on the groundwater. Groundwater is a major source of water across much of the world, and acts as a component of the global water cycle on the Earth. Groundwater has the capacity to balance large swings in precipitation and has the potential to supplement surface-water resources when they are close to the limits of sustainability such as during drought. Although groundwater is pivotal to sustain water supplies, these important resources are vulnerable to increased human activities and the uncertain consequences of climate change. This book presents that groundwater with longer resident time of water circulation can be an alternative water resources and environment in changing climate. Assessments of groundwater services and benefit as well as risk are important for sustainable groundwater uses under the climate change. Groundwater which is one of the leys of adaptation to climate change should be treated as common resources and environment beyond the tragedy of the commons and dilemma of the boundaries. While providing a comprehensive description of hydrogeological characteristics of groundwater systems, the present volume also covers important aspects of legal and institutional contexts required for groundwater resources management as well as social and economic considerations. This publication may contribute to an improved understanding of the impacts of climate change and human activity on groundwater resources, provides useful guidance for policy makers and planners to include groundwater into climate change adaptation schemes and strategies.

"These guidelines focus on groundwater pollution arising from point source contamination rather than on broad-scale groundwater issues arising from diffuse sources ... These Guidelines for the assessment and management of groundwater contamination (the guidelines) outline a best-practice framework for assessing and managing contaminated groundwater in NSW."--Preface.

This book gathers the peer-reviewed proceedings of the 1st congress on Geoethics & Groundwater Management (GEOETH&GWM'20), held in Porto, Portugal, in an online format on 18-22 May 2020. Hosted in School of Engineering (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto based on Porto city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the international conference focused on what has now been dubbed “hydrogeoethics”, a novel transdisciplinary, scientific field integrating all dimensions of geoethics in groundwater science and practice. Given its scope, the book is of interest to all researchers and practitioners in the geosciences, hydrology, water resources, hydrogeology, natural resources management, environment, engineering, law, sociology, education, philosophy, culture, among others. This joint congress is the result of a collaborative agreement between the IAH (International Association of Hydrogeologists) and IAPG (International Association for Promoting Geoethics) and reflects the need for concerted actions to achieve sustainable development. The diversity, scale, significance and increasing magnitude of anthropogenic interactions with aquifers and groundwater, which often involve conflicting values or interests, call for analysis, discussions and decisions on the part of the agents involved, e.g. groundwater scientists, policymakers, managers, organisations, professionals and citizens. This approach calls for a responsible, sustainable and human approach to groundwater use and management. The groundwater community involved in the exploration and exploitation, use and management of this increasingly vital natural resource is becoming more and more aware that ethical issues pervade all our attitudes from concept to action and need to be addressed. Diverse values and cultures, science and education, law and policies, human and natural environments and the public and the economic sectors view groundwater and its value and/or role differently. The authors believe that in a globalised and interconnected world, common ground must be found in the interest of peace, human development and sustainability. The main topics covered here include: 1. Fundamentals of hydrogeoethics: cultures, principles and geoethical values on groundwater science and engineering 2. Lessons for a resilient and sustainable future with hydrogeoethics: case studies of geoethics in groundwater science-engineering, profession, and management 3. Scientific and humanistic components of hydrogeoethics in groundwater education and professional training 4. Socio-hydrogeology and ethical groundwater management 5. Geoethics of decision making under uncertainty and ethical issues in neglecting groundwater functioning 6. Groundwater: geological, legal, social, and ethical challenges of a unique natural resource