Greater Water Security with Groundwater
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white paper RETHINK WATER | RETHINK WATER WATER WATER RESO U RCES | JANUARY 2013 | JANUARY RCES Greater water security with groundwater Groundwater mapping and sustainable groundwater management Greater water security with groundwater Groundwater mapping and sustainable groundwater management Version 1.0 About this white paper This white paper is developed by the Rethink Water network in Denmark. The network consists of more than 50 technology and consulting companies, water utilities, water organisations and public authorities. It was established to support our partners internationally in developing the highest quality water solutions. Frontpage picture Groundwater survey in Colorado, USA Editor Danish Water Forum Pia Klee [email protected] Contributors Alectia Flemming Pedersen [email protected] COWI Anders Refsgaard [email protected] Danish Water Forum Pia Klee [email protected] DHI Torsten Vammen Jacobsen [email protected] EnviDan Jens Dyrberg [email protected] GEUS Geological Surveys of Denmark and Greenland Richard Thomsen [email protected] GEUS Geological Surveys of Denmark and Greenland Verner Søndergaard [email protected] I-GIS Torben Bach [email protected] Rambøll Peter Thomsen [email protected] SkyTEM Surveys Flemming Effersø [email protected] Aarhus Geophysics Andrea Viezzoli [email protected] Aarhus University Anders Vest Christiansen [email protected] © Rethink Water & Danish Water Forum 2013 Executive summary We must manage ground Providing enough fresh water for a growing niques, integrated water resource modelling population and for increasing industrial produc- and decision-making systems. water resources in order to tion is a critical issue in many countries. Climate be able to meet the needs change is affecting global rainfall patterns and Multiple benefits from groundwater use water distribution. Since there is approximately Groundwater is less exposed to pollution than of future generations. 100 times more groundwater on Earth than sur- surface water, the water quality is higher and it Good decisionmaking tools face water, it makes sense to exploit ground- requires less treatment. Moreover, water utili- water as a source of water. In many parts of ties can benefit from planning long term. They are key in taking the right the world, especially in arid or seasonally dry can avoid major investment linked to surface decisions to protect our regions, groundwater can provide a stable and water infrastructure and enjoy a higher level sustainable source of high quality water. of water security. Groundwater mapping and groundwater sustainable groundwater management en- Failed investments sure improved knowledge of the availability of IDA AUKEN There is a history of many failed investments water resources, a critical factor in attracting Minister for the in dams or groundwater well fields. The most new companies and industry. By investing in Environment DENMARK important cause has been the difficulty in as- groundwater usage local business partners will sessing project feasibility and sustainability develop their competence through knowledge due to inadequate knowledge, data and tools. transfer from international experts. This crea- Sustainable exploitation requires that the main tes a strong platform for expanding the local recharge areas are protected to ensure that water business to other regions. aqui fer replenishment comes from clean water. Management must be integrated Efficient methods and tools exist It is important to understand that it only takes Because of a historical shortage of surface a few contaminants and/or an unbalanced ap- water, Denmark has always relied heavily on proach to utilisation for groundwater resources groundwater. Danish companies are now among to be damaged forever. Some of the critical is- the world’s leading experts in exploiting this sues or barriers can be addressed or resolved by resource. Groundwater can be located very ef- accurate groundwater mapping and sustainable ficiently, and groundwater management made groundwater management, or with integrated sustainable with modelling and monitoring water resources management. Groundwater is systems. Today there is great demand around an important part of the hydrological cycle and the world for this expertise and the associated should be managed in an integrated way with technologies, which include surveying tech- other water resources. National pilot study, India In 2013, a pilot study in India will map groundwater aquifers in six different regions representing the com plexity of Indian hydrogeology. The study is funded by the World Bank and the Indian Mini stry of Water Resources. The goal is to develop a costeffective approach to the exploration and management of the country’s groundwater re sources. If the pilot is successful, the project will be extended across India. Danish scientists and companies will be supporting their Indian col leagues in the collection, processing and inter pretation of vast amounts of data and in build ing the tools for the sustainable management of India’s groundwater resources. (Courtesy: Aarhus University, HydroGeophysics Group, and SkyTEM Surveys). WHITE PAPER - GROUNDWATER MAPPING AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT | 5 1. The right knowledge makes groundwater last forever 1 2. Methods and tools for mapping and hydrogeological modelling 4 3. Policies and administration of groundwater resources 9 4. The benefits of investing in groundwater supply 12 5. Avoiding problems with groundwater 14 6. Groundwater as a part of integrated water resources management 15 WHITE PAPER - GROUNDWATER MAPPING AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT | 1 1. The right knowledge makes groundwater last forever Groundwater resources Providing enough fresh water for a growing population and for increasing industrial produc- are often overlooked. But tion is a critical issue for many countries. Clima- for many countries ground te change is affecting global rainfall patterns and water distribution. Since there is approxi- water exploitation can be mately 100 times more groundwater than sur- carried out sustainably, and face water on Earth, it makes sense to exploit this important source of water. In many parts provide a reliable supply of of the world, especially in arid or seasonally dry water for current and future regions, groundwater can provide a stable and sustainable source of high-quality water. generations Sustainable groundwater exploitation RICHARD THOMSEN Geophysicist and Hydrologist Groundwater can be located very efficiently GEUS GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS OF with advanced airborne geophysical mapping Classification Groundwater classification map DENMARK AND GREENLAND me thods, and groundwater management can with subdivision of Denmark into highly valu be achieved sustainably with groundwater able, valuable, and less valuable groundwater modelling technologies and monitoring sys- abstraction areas. (Courtesy: GEUS). tems. The key is a credible groundwater model, which guards against over-extraction from the maps identifying the weak points in the system. wells. Over-exploitation of the resource will Site-specific groundwater protection zones come at the expense of future generations. were established to prevent ground water conta mination from urban development and Mapping programme in Denmark agricultural sources. An ambitious groundwater mapping program- me laid the foundation for the groundwater Summary of the Danish site-specific ground- exper tise of Danish companies. Today this water protection strategy: expertise, which includes surveying technolo- gies, software tools for integrated water re- 1) Spatially dense hydrogeological mapping source modelling and decision-making systems based on existing data supplemented with is in global demand. The programme began in new geophysical surveys, drilling surveys, 1998 when the government adopted a plan water sampling and hydrological model- for hydro geological investigation. The aim was ling. The mapping is aimed at establishing to produce an accurate picture of Danish aqui- site-specific protection zones. Vulnerability fers with respect to their location, distribution, is inter preted in relation to the local hydro- extension and interconnection and to produce logical and chemical conditions. Water cycle The water cycle is an endless cycle where water runs from bore hole dug well layers in the ground towards rivers, lakes and the sea. There it evapo sand rates, falls from the sky as rain or snow and begins its journey artesian well groundwater le again into the ground. To understand this process in detail, r tab wate und it is necessary to understand the factors that control gro spring the flow of water. Efficient mapping of groundwater clay sea clay and of the protection it needs are essential for opti © Carsten Egestal Thuesen, GEUS mal management of the resource. (Courtesy: GEUS). 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