Groundwater Science And Policy

This book offers an overview of key findings in groundwater management in context against the legislative milestones. Until recently, focus on groundwater mainly concerned its use as drinking water and as an important resource for industry (e.g. cooling waters) and agriculture (irrigation). It has, however, become increasingly obvious that groundwater should not only be viewed as a drinking water reservoir, but that it should also be protected for its environmental value. In this respect, groundwater represents an important link of the hydrological cycle through the maintenance of wetlands and river flows, acting as a buffer through dry periods. Hence, deterioration of groundwater quality may directly affect other related aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The groundwater legislative framework under the EU Water Framework Directive and the newly adopted Groundwater Directive establishes criteria linked to environmental objectives which have to be met by 2015 following successive operational steps including characterisation, risk assessment (analysis of pressures and impacts), monitoring and design of programmes of measures. These milestones require that sound technical and scientific information be made accessible to water managers, which is so far still not sufficiently streamlined. In this context, this book describes the groundwater legislative milestones and presents series of research and development activities that aim to directly support them. It has, therefore, the ambition to become a vehicle liaising policy requirements and available scientific knowledge in this area.

Groundwater Science, 2E, covers groundwater's role in the hydrologic cycle and in water supply, contamination, and construction issues. It is a valuable resource for students and instructors in the geosciences (with focuses in hydrology, hydrogeology, and environmental science), and as a reference work for professional researchers. This interdisciplinary text weaves important methods and applications from the disciplines of physics, chemistry, mathematics, geology, biology, and environmental science, introducing you to the mathematical modeling and contaminant flow of groundwater. New to the Second Edition:. New chapter on subsurface heat flow and geothermal systems. Expanded content on well construction and design, surface water hydrology, groundwater/ surface water interaction, slug tests, pumping tests, and mounding analysis.. Updated discussions of groundwater modeling, calibration, parameter estimation, and uncertainty. Free software tools for slug test analysis, pumping test analysis, and aquifer modeling. Lists of key terms and chapter contents at the start of each chapter. Expanded end-of-chapter problems, including more conceptual questions. Two-color figures. Homework problems at the end of each chapter and worked examples throughout. Companion website with videos of field exploration and contaminant migration experiments, PDF files of USGS reports, and data files for homework problems. PowerPoint slides and solution manual for adopting faculty.

Provides an in-depth look at science, policy and management in the water sector across the globe Sustainable water management is an increasingly complex challenge and policy priority facing global society. This book examines how governments, municipalities, corporations, and individuals find sustainable water management pathways across competing priorities of water for ecosystems, food, energy, economic growth and human consumption. It looks at the current politics and economics behind the management of our freshwater ecosystems and infrastructure and offers insightful essays that help stimulate more intense and informed debate about the subject and its need for local and international cooperation. This book celebrates the 15-year anniversary of Oxford University’s MSc course in Water Science, Policy and Management. Edited and written by some of the leading minds in the field, writing alongside alumni from the course, Water Science, Policy and Management: A Global Challenge offers in-depth chapters in three parts: Science; Policy; and Management. Topics cover: hydroclimatic extremes and climate change; the past, present, and future of groundwater resources; water quality modelling, monitoring, and management; and challenges for freshwater ecosystems. The book presents critical views on the monitoring and modelling of hydrological processes; the rural water policy in Africa and Asia; the political economy of wastewater in Europe; drought policy management and water allocation. It also examines the financing of water infrastructure; the value of wastewater; water resource planning; sustainable urban water supply and the human right to water. Features perspectives from some of the world’s leading experts on water policy and management Identifies and addresses current and future water sector challenges Charts water policy trends across a rapidly evolving set of challenges in a variety of global areas Covers the reallocation of water; policy process of risk management; the future of the world’s water under global environmental change; and more Water Science, Policy and Management: A Global Challenge is an essential book for policy makers and government agencies involved in water management, and for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying water science, governance, and policy.

Recent discussions among scientists and policy-makers have highlighted that knowledge generated by many research and demonstration projects is not reaching policymakers in an efficient way. Conversely, the consideration of research results by the policy making community is not straightforward, and difficulties arise in integrating the latest research developments in legislation. The difficulty is enhanced by the fact that the policy-making community is not defining its role as "client" sufficiently well and the dialogue and communication channels are far from ideal to ensure an efficient flow of information. An increasing number of experts consider that improvements could be achieved through the development of a "science-policy interface" so that R&D results are synthesised in a way to efficiently feed policy implementation and that short, medium and long term research needs may be identified. This book examines the issue of integrating science into policy, with an emphasis on water system knowledge and related policies. An important feature of the book is the discussion of science-policy interfacing needs, illustrated by examples from authors from different countries in relation to water system management. This publication is timely in that the science-policy interfacing is now identified as a key challenge worldwide with regard to integrated water resource management, and therefore the book will be of great interest to scientists, water managers and stakeholders. Readers will also benefit from a better understanding of the needs, benefits and drawbacks of an established transfer mechanism of scientific outputs to policies.

This text combines the science and engineering of hydrogeology in an accessible, innovative style. As well as providing physical descriptions and characterisations of hydrogeological processes, it also sets out the corresponding mathematical equations for groundwater flow and solute/heat transport calculations. And, within this, the methodological and conceptual aspects for flow and contaminant transport modelling are discussed in detail. This comprehensive analysis forms the ideal textbook for graduate and undergraduate students interested in groundwater resources and engineering, and indeed its analyses can apply to researchers and professionals involved in the area.

The discovery of toxic pollution at Love Canal brought ground water contamination to the forefront of public attention. Since then, ground water science and modeling have become increasingly important in evaluating contamination, setting regulations, and resolving liability issues in court. A clearly written explanation of ground water processes and modeling, Ground Water Models focuses on the practical aspects of model application. It: examines the role of models in regulation, litigation, and policy development; explains ground water processes and describes specific applications for models; presents emerging technologies; and offers specific recommendations for better use of ground water science in policy formation.

This report provides a science and management approach to the groundwater policy. It considers the implications of integrated land use and resource management as it affects groundwater, and their impact on sustainability and resource development activities, particularly those of the mining industry. The report discusses Federal and Provincial Government legislation and policy trends; the impacts of local governments and the public; and the impact of the mining industry and acid rock drainage.