Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater: overview and perspective

Abstract

The world's fresh water resources are unequally distributed both in time and in space. Until recently water resource management focused on reallocating water to when and where it was required, a supply-side or fragmented approach. Nowadays there are signs that water resource availability is dwindling-due to both population growth and increased per capita water use-and ecosystems are being damaged. To face this challenge a new holistic approach is needed. This approach includes the integrated or conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources and takes account of social, economic and environmental factors. Moreover, it recognizes the importance of water quality issues.In this context, the paper examines the main aspects and problems concerned with the planning, design, construction and management of conjunctive use of surface and subsurface water resources, along with its environmental impacts and constraints to sustainable development. The importance and role of research thrust, technology transfer, institutional strengthening, effective partnerships between governments and stakeholders, and sound financial frameworks are also examined. Finally, the challenges and benchmarks for future actions that the scientific community and planners have to face and deal with, are briefly outlined. Copyright  2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.KEY WORDS: conjunctive use; surface water; groundwater; models; sustainable development; planning RÉSUMÉ Les ressources de l'eau douce dans le monde sont distribuée inégalement dans l'espace et le temps. Jusqu'à ces dermiers temps la gestion des ressources de l'eau se fixait sur la redistribution de l'eau vers l'endroit et le temps de besoin, une approche de l'offre et fragmentaire. Actuellement on remarque que la disponibilité des ressources des eaux diminue-à cause de la croissance de la population et de l'usage augmenté de l'eau par personne-et lesécosystèmes se détériorent. Pour faire faceà cetteépreuve on a besoin d'une nouvelle approche holistique. Cette approche inclut l'usage integré ou combiné des eaux de surface et souterraines et prend en compte les facteurs sociaux,économiques etécologiques. De plus, elle reconnaît l'importance des questions de la qualité des eaux.Dans ce contexte, cet article examine les aspects et les problèmes principaux en ce qui concerne la planification, le dessin, la construction et la gestion de l'usage combiné des eaux de surface et souterraines avec ses impacts sur l'environment et ses contraintes au développement viable. L'importance et le rôle de l'aspect principal de la recherche, des transfert technologiques, du renforcement des institutions, des collaborations efficaces entre les gouvernements et acteurs, et les de solides structures financières sontégalement examinée.

Conjunctive surface water and groundwater management under climate change

“…Azaiez and Hariga (2001) presented a singleperiod planning model for conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater for a multi-reservoir system, with stochastic inflow to the main reservoir and irrigation water demand. de Wrachien and Fasso (2002) pointed out that conjunctively coordinated management of surface water and groundwater could achieve the maximum benefits of efficient use of total water resources. Barlow et al (2003) developed a conjunctive management model through coupling numerical simulation with linear programming optimization model into a general framework to determine sustainable yield of the alluvial-valley stream-aquifer systems.…”

“…Using groundwater to compliment surface water supplies can help reduce vulnerabilities of surface water supply systems to climate change to a certain extent (Taylor et al, 2013). As pointed out by de Wrachien and Fasso (2002), properly managed integrated water resources systems can yield more water with more economic rates than those separately managed surface-water or groundwater systems. Conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater has been extensively studied and a number of methods/techniques have been reported for supporting conjunctive water use planning and management (Ejaz and Peralta, 1995;Başaǧaoǧlu and Mariňo, 1999;Azaiez, 2002;Mohan and Jothiprakash, 2003;Pulido-Velazquez et al, 2008;Matrosov et al, 2011;Shi et al, 2012;Bejranonda et al, 2013;Khan et al, 2014).…”

Food Production and Irrigation and Drainage Systems Development Perspective and Challenges

“…Technology in irrigation and drainage development is concerned with the planning, design and control of the systems, including water conveyance, regulation structures, water quality and environmental protection measures. It is also concerned with modernization procedures and methods for conjunctive use of surface and groundwater to minimize water use and reduce deep percolation [18].…”

Irrigation and drainage systems research and development in the 21st century

“…Communication between the different partners should be an essential element of the framework, along with the need for a cross-disciplinary approach in order to develop environmentally sound strategies and policies. Finally, the results of this integrated approach, both in terms of the understanding of existing irrigation and drainage systems and of the potential impact of management and policy changes, should be communicated to and shared with stakeholders (De Wrachien and Fasso, 2002).…”