Groundwater conceptual model built for general public access and contribution: A case study from Australia

Abstract

<p>Groundwater plays a vital role in improving the efficiency of natural water resource management and protecting and restoring water related ecosystems (SDG 6). Additionally, understanding the importance of groundwater for general public and proper management of the interactions between surface waters and their underlying aquifers is a prerequisite to maintaining their cultural and ecological value and services.</p><p>Nowadays, decisions around groundwater in Australia are out of the reach of the general people owing to a lack of awareness and technical knowledge within the field. By including people in the decision making process through an integrated groundwater surveillance platform, communities will be empowered to contribute to the resilience of water resources, safeguarding them for future generations (SDG 11).</p><p>This abstract introduces and proposes a program that is designed to raise awareness and involve the public in groundwater distribution. By using the simple concept of groundwater flow direction and interactions with surface water features, individuals can monitor and report the abnormal flow of water that may affect surface water resources. This will also enable people to raise questions about local water management plans, promoting the sustainable management of natural water resources.</p><p>The program will have a direct impact on regions suffering from the degradation of surface water features that may relate to insufficient groundwater discharge. It also serves as a preventative measure, protecting groundwater storage in regions that heavily rely on groundwater. To sum up, groundwater is a crucial link of water cycle and the sustainable management of groundwater can lead to efficient water management and improve water usage sustainability.</p>