Sustainable Management of Groundwater Resources in Developing Countries: Constraints and Challenges
Groundwater is a major source of water supply throughout the World. It is the largest available source of freshwater, which supports human health, socio-economic development, and ecological diversity. However, over-exploitation and the growing water pollu
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Sustainable Management of Groundwater Resources in Developing Countries: Constraints and Challenges Madan K. Jha
Abstract Groundwater is a major source of water supply throughout the World. It is the largest available source of freshwater, which supports human health, socioeconomic development, and ecological diversity. However, over-exploitation and the growing water pollution are threatening our ecosystems as well as the life of our future generations. How to maintain long-term sustainable yield from aquifers is a serious global concern, particularly in the developing countries. The main intent of this chapter is to highlight the constraints and challenges of sustainable development and management of groundwater resources in the developing nations. This chapter also intends to suggest ways for improving water resources management in general and groundwater management in particular. Firstly, the importance of freshwater is highlighted followed by an overview of growing problem of water crisis in the World and India. Secondly, the constraints and challenges of groundwater management in the developing nations are described. Thirdly, the modern concepts of water management, together with the principles of sustainable groundwater management are discussed. Finally, considering the enormity and severity of water problems in the developing countries (including India), a wakeup call is sounded. It is emphasized that the modern concepts coupled with emerging tools and techniques for water management hold a great promise for the sustainable management of groundwater resources in the developed and developing countries.
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Introduction
Since the dawn of human history, freshwater has been considered as an essential ingredient of human survival and population growth. Water permeates life on the earth and is lifeblood of the biosphere – no life is possible without water! Water
M.K. Jha (*) AgFE Department, Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721 302, India e-mail: [email protected] Mu. Ramkumar (ed.), On a Sustainable Future of the Earth’s Natural Resources, Springer Earth System Sciences, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-32917-3_18, # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
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is the key resource for the biotic survival and health, socio-economic development, and the sustenance of Earth’s ecosystems. On the other hand, natural ecosystems also play a crucial role in the availability and quality of water through their purifying and regulating services, thereby sustaining human development on the Earth. In other words, water has social, economic and environmental values and is essential for sustainable development (Falkenmark and Rockstrom 2004; UNESCO 2003, 2009). Unlike many other vital resources of the Earth, there is no substitute for water in most activities and processes where it is required! Almost 70 % of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and hence it is called a blue planet. Out of a total global storage of some 1.4 billion km3 of water in solid, liquid and gaseous forms, ab
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