Handbook published on groundwater management in coastal zones

A large part of the human population lives in coastal zones, often concentrated in major urban centers. Ongoing population and economic growth place an increasing demand on already-stressed water resources, and put coastal aquifers at risk of seawater intrusion. Intensive groundwater abstraction has caused groundwater salinization in coastal regions all over the world. Rising sea levels and increased incidence of storm surges due to climate change as well as land subsidence are likely to exacerbate the issue over the coming decades.

In the context of a rising demand and decreasing resources, water use efficiency and source diversification are key ingredients for a secure water supply. Groundwater plays a crucial role in this, but the available amounts and renewal rates vary from one coastal region to the other. Therefore, sustainable water resource management is only possible when the groundwater system is fully understood, which requires a well-designed monitoring network. While data are the first prerequisite for management, good governance is another equally important precondition. Without a clear understanding of groundwater’s role in a region’s economic development, cross-sectoral coordination and legislative enforcement, no management policy can be effective.

This handbook, edited by the BGR authors Dr. Vincent Post, Dr. Michael Eichholz and Ramon Brentführer and presented at the World Water Week 2018 in Stockholm, gives an overview of risks and hazards to coastal groundwater and discusses the principles of good groundwater management and governance. It also provides a selection of examples of proven strategies for securing fresh groundwater resources through abstraction management, demand reduction, improved groundwater recharge, and engineering measures to prevent seawater intrusion.