[IJERPH] (IF: 4.614, SCIE & SSCI) Special Issue on "Advances in Groundwater Management"
Mohammed Hssaisoune
Dear Colleagues,
Groundwater constitutes the largest resource of fresh water on Earth and serves as a significant source of water supply for agriculture and domestic, as well as industrial, purposes. As surface water is very vulnerable to precipitation decrease, groundwater is considered as a strategic water resource by several countries.
Globally, the increase in water demands, combined with the climate change-induced decrease in precipitation, has put a significant amount of pressure on groundwater resources, especially in semi-arid areas. The continuous imbalance between groundwater extraction and natural recharge has caused a dramatic decline in groundwater storage. Additionally, aquifers suffer from the degradation in quality due to seawater intrusion, anthropogenic pollution and natural salinity changes.
Monitoring groundwater level, quality, recharge and extraction enables the development of mechanisms to promote better allocation among users and uses, as well as long-term water management solutions for more effective storage and conservation. Without appropriate measures, the decline in groundwater quantity and quality will jeopardize water security in several parts of the world (e.g., semi-arid areas).
This Special Issue on “Advances in Groundwater Management” invites papers that present recent developments, innovations, and scientific progress in sustainable groundwater management, including the following topics:
- Hydrogeological systems and sustainable groundwater resources management;
- Groundwater vulnerability and risk management;
- Groundwater quality and public health impacts of groundwater contamination;
- Groundwater policy and social aspects of groundwater management.