Management of Groundwater Resources Principles, Integrated Strategies and Trends

1. Management of Groundwater Resources Principles, Integrated Strategies and Trends Priv.-Doz. Dr. Michael Schneider Freie Universität Berlin Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften Arbeitsbereich Hydrogeologie www.fu-berlin.de/hydrogeologie

2. Chapter I: Principles Chapter II: Experiences and Trends in Europe

3. Groundwater Management  Assessment of interactions between groundwater exploitation and regional hydrologic system (surface water and groundwater)  Management of the quantity and quality of water for all purposes, including - drinking water - industrial water - irrigation water - recreational use  Resource management policies in reconciliation with: - environmental policies - agricultural policies - other economic policies

4. Questions in the Frame of Groundwater Resources Development  Wells: Locations? How many? Pumping rates?  Effect of the pumping scheme on local and regional water levels?  Long-term yield capability of the wells, the aquifers, the basin?  Undesirable side effects of the development, e.g. land subsidence, seawater intrusion, upconing of deep saline groundwater, dry wetlands ?

5. Failures in Groundwater Management Management failures: Failures in the use and protection of groundwater resources Institutional failures: Fragmented, conflicting and uncoordinated management Market failures: Non-existant or inefficient demand management

6. Dynamic Equilibrium in Natural Aquifers and Human Influence Recharge Area Discharge Area Groundwater Basin

7. Response of Recharge and Discharge to an increase in Groundwater Withdrawal Recharge rate dS/dt: Rate of change of storage + Time - Withdrawal rate Discharge rate increased pumping rates: = max. available induced recharge is attained = no stable recharge rate possible = only source: increased dS/dt = rapidly declining water table = maximum stable basin yield is exeeded Water table = resulting from the withdrawals of all wells in the basin (according to: Freeze 1971) Optimal Groundwater Development ? Optimal Yield of a Groundwater basin ?

8. Concept of Groundwater Yield: The Scale Problem Well yield: Maximum pumping rate of a single well without lowering the water level in the well below the pump intake Aquifer yield: Maximum rate of withdrawal without causing an unacceptable decline in the hydraulic head in the aquifer Basin yield: Maximum rate of withdrawal that can be sustained by the complete hydrogeologic system in a groundwater basin without causing an unacceptable decline in the hydraulic head in the aquifer If pumping rates of all wells in a highly developed aquifer are equal to their well yield  Aquifer yield will be exeeded

9. Concept of Safe Yield Safe yield of a groundwater basin: Amount of water that can be withdrawn from the basin annually without producing an undesired result. Any withdrawal in excess of safe yield is an overdraft (Todd 1959). „undesired“ results (after Domenico, Kazman and others): - depletion of groundwater reserves - intrusion of water of undesirable quality - contravention of water rights - deterioration of the economic advantages of pumping - excessive depletion of surface waters by induced inflitration - land subsidence

10. Groundwater Management: Controlling and Monitoring Water Demand Management: • Pricing • Regulations, Laws • Demand Forecasting • Information and Education GW Withdrawal/Artificial Recharge(QE) Groundwater System Hydraulic Head (h) Water Quality Groundwater Recharge (QR) Natural Discharge (QD) h = f(QR, QD, QE, S, T, x, y, t)

11. Chapter I: Principles Chapter II: Experiences and Trends in Europe

12. UNCED, Rio de Janeiro 1992: Agenda 21 Chapter 18: Protection of Quality and Quantity of the fresh water resources • Idea of sustainability: Integration of environmental aspects into different policy fields : Consideration of ecological, economical and social spects; consideration of the needs of all consumers • Integrated management on the basis of catchment areas • Sustainable food production: efficient use of water, protection of waters • Consideration of total costs of all planning and exploitation activities • Consideration of the effect of climate change • Promotion of the international scientific cooperation and education • Development of national activity plans: Demand for „local agendas 21“

13. European Union EG-Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EG, 22.12.2000: • Implementation of a modern european water right • Groundwater body: protect, improve, remediate; Balance between withdrawal and recharge; Def. „available groundwater resource“ European Council of Göteborg/Committee for Economic and Social Affairs (21.2.2002): • „Sustainable development“ as a new vision for the future of Europe; effective for employment and economic growth • Sustainable management in some cases not economic (under recent conditions) • Investment in education and research Report of the Commission 2002/0132: • Priorities for the cooperation with non-member states: • Integrated management of soil and water resources = key for a secure food production and water supply • Sustainable management of transboundary water resources • Education; Implementation of networks

14. (Federal Environmental Agency, Germany) Principles of a Sustainable Water Management: Exploitation of local resources Ecology + Economy + Social conditions Principle of regionalisation Principle of integration Groundwater contamination: Polluter pays Principle „Polluter pays“ Participation of all relevant groups/persons Principle of cooperation Reduction of groundwater withdrawal to a minimum; reduction of energy consumption P. of minimal resource exploitation Principle of prevention Gw protection areawide; voluntary measures Source-oriented principle Source-oriented remediation measures Principle of reversal Management measures should be reversible Protection of the water resources for future generations; Liberalization of the water market ? Principle of „intergeneration“

15. Trends in Water Management  Structural change in the water sector: Privatization and concentration of water supply companies („multy utility companies“)  World market for drinking water: 50 billion EUR/year (EU Comm.); increasing water consumption on global scale/water shortages/quality problems  Number of water companies per 1 mio consumers: Germany: 88; Netherland: 4.4; England: 0.7; France: 0.1  Drinking water consumption in Germany: 130 l/capita per day (constant); rising water prices  Consequences of privatization (economic pressure) for the quality of water supply are unclear  Demand for consideration of the principle of sustainability

16. Management of Water Resources in Berlin Waste water treat. plant • Basic data: • Population: 3,6 Mio. • 127/180 l per capita per day (-/+ industry) • Bank filtered water in raw water: 40-90 % • High percentage of treated waste water in bank filtered water • Depletion of streamflow in river Spree • Water Budget: • Recharge: in Mio.m3 • Natural gw-recharge: 150 • Artificial gw-recharge: 50 • Bank filtration : 100-180 • Withdrawal: • Berlin Water Works: 250-260 • Self-supplier: 10-18 Treated waste water discharge Moraine (Till) Water works Surface water treatment plant Artificial groundwater recharge Outwash Plain Moraine (Till) (Kartengrundlage: Berliner Wasserbetriebe 1998) Aspects of Sustainability: • Berlin is „self-supplier“ • Raw water treatment (no chlorination) • Optimal network management • Management of rainwater • Decrease of water consumption • = Protection of groundwater resources; low depth to gw = „healthy climate“ in urban area • Closing of water and material cycles: Precondition for a sustainable urban development

17. Summary: • Balance between Recharge and Groundwater withdrawal; concept of safe yield • Consideration of time-dependent changes of R and D under increased pumpage • Consideration of economic and social aspects • Integrated management of soil and groundwater resources • Consideration of climate change on hydrologic budgets • Urban/Industrial areas: Closing of water cycles; if possible • Agriculture: Reduction of water consumption • Trend in Europe: Privatization and concentration in the water sector