Technologies to enhance sustainable groundwater use

The absolute demand for water is increasing due to demographic, industrial, and agricultural growth. Meanwhile, local water resources are constrained based on climate and geology. The deployment of select technologies holds promise to enhance the sustainable use of groundwater resources. Groundwater mapping is an essential first step, to understand the subsurface landscape. This knowledge can then be practically applied to manage and increase groundwater recharge, and to reduce saline groundwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers. Improving water-use efficiency in the agriculture, household, and industrial sectors can increase utility from each available unit of groundwater. However, the net groundwater implications of irrigation efficiency improvements are complex, as “wasted” irrigation water often contributes to groundwater recharge. Technologies can be used to improve the quality of groundwater contaminated by salt, arsenic, fluoride, and organic pathogens. Finally, in regions suffering from economic water scarcity, improved technologies for creating wells and pumping groundwater can increase access to groundwater.