Increasing the visibility of transboundary groundwater

Abstract

DevelopmentReport, Groundwater: Making the invisible visible [1], highlights the importance of groundwater in meeting water demands globally. Noted ominously in the report's short summary is that "this natural resource is often poorly understood, and consequently undervalued, mismanaged and even abused." Hence, the need for increasing the visibility of a critical water resource that, unlike rivers, lakes, and oceans, cannot be seen.Assessment of aquifers, the formations that contain groundwater, can characterize groundwater quantity and quality, but assessment methods can be lengthy, expensive, and poorly understood. Yet, assessment is necessary for improving groundwater governance and management [2,3]. Groundwater governance can be defined "the overarching framework of groundwater use laws, regulations, and customs, as well as the processes of engaging the public sector, the private sector, and civil society" [4]. Groundwater management consists of the actions of groundwater users in the context of the governance framework. An example is where the governance framework allows for aquifer recharge, but the decisions of water managers determine if aquifer recharge is undertaken.Groundwater characterization is never an easy exercise, but assessment of aquifers that cross jurisdictional borders-transboundary aquifers-can be particularly challenging. When multiple countries are involved, data analysis may require harmonization across differences in methods of collecting and representing data, languages, cultures, and governance systems [2,5,6]. Yet this work is necessary to develop a common understanding of the shared resource. Monetary and human resources must be available to conduct assessments jointly. A platform for cooperation, such as a formal working group, committee, or commission, may need to be established. Many large aquifers worldwide are transboundary [2]. Transboundary aquifers cover around 40% of the continents of Africa and South America, and approximately 30% of Africa's population and 20% of South America's live in such areas [2]. Because meeting the food and water needs of the globe's growing populations reliably and safely is increasingly dependent on groundwater [2], assessment and management of transboundary aquifers require our urgent attention. Though assessment of transboundary aquifers has been ongoing (see, for example, Rivera et al.[7]), agreements to manage groundwater in transboundary settings are fewer in number [8,9].