Protection and Management of Groundwater: An Invisible Vital Resource

In many regions, groundwater is the main source for water supply, irrigation, and industry. Groundwater reservoirs, the aquifers, can contain important reserves of groundwater mitigating the effects of drought and other phenomena related to climate change. Furthermore, groundwater is less vulnerable to many types of contamination, although when contaminated its restoration could be more problematic. Groundwater resources are renewable but not unlimited, often subject to overexploitation which has negative consequences: economic, environmental, subsidence, etc. Definitions of criteria to be used as a guide to sustainable management have been proposed by several authors. However, the enforcement of those criteria can be challenging because they have to reconcile opposed interests. Aquifer modeling and monitoring are useful tools for guidance in aquifer management. This one can be modified according to the results of the actual exploitation (adaptive management). The most widespread type of contamination results from agriculture. This problem is difficult to deal with because population growth implies more food production. Population growth and the crescent tendency to migration from the country to big cities pose big stress on water resources resulting in widespread contamination due to poor sanitation conditions.