The WWDR 2015 underlines that ‘groundwater supplies are diminishing, with an estimated 20% of the world’s aquifers currently over-exploited. Worldwide, 2.5 billion people depend solely on groundwater resources to satisfy their daily needs for water and hundreds of millions of farmers rely on groundwater to sustain their livelihoods and contribute to the food security of so many others.’ Given the importance of this fragile resource, a number of case studies focus on its sustainable use, among other issues.
From Pacific Small Island Developing States with limited economic means to wealthy Gulf Cooperation Council countries and major metropolises in Asia, the challenges facing governments in managing this largely not well studied resource are broad.
The case studies point to the fact that for both surface and groundwater resources, political willingness will be required to address the urgent need to reconsider supply-side management in all sectors and improve water efficiency to achieve maximum productivity per cubic meter consumed.