A framework for sustainable groundwater management

Authors: ANANDHI, AAVUDAI - Florida A & M University; KARUNANIDHI, D - Sri Shakthi Institute Of Engineering And Technology; MUTHU, SANKAR - French Institute Of Pondicherry; PANDA, SUDHANSHU - University Of North Georgia; Kannan, Narayanan

Submitted to: Water
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2022
Publication Date: 10/27/2022
Citation: Anandhi, A., Karunanidhi, D., Muthu, S.G., Panda, S., Kannan, N. 2022. A framework for sustainable groundwater management. Water. 14(21):3416.

Interpretive Summary: The manuscript describes the development of a sustainable groundwater management tool as a product of the three-day Indo-US workshop. The tool has four stages namely (1) representation of the groundwater aquifer (2) description of the aquifer using DPSIR (drivers, pressures, state, impact, responses) framework (3) development of causal chains (4) identification of knowledge gaps and articulation of next steps. The developed tool can be used to look at various groundwater quality and quantity issues of any aquifer system. Four case studies were selected from the workshop technical sessions to demonstrate applicability of the tool. They were (a) a coastal aquifer in India (b) Dockum aquifer in TX (c) Piedmont and Blueridge Aquifer in GA, and (d) a Floridan aquifer. The workshop recommendations were: (1) developing vulnerability analysis models for groundwater managers; (2) treatment and new ways of using low-quality groundwater; (3) adopting groundwater recharge; (4) mitigating pollutants getting into the aquifer; and (5) reducing groundwater use. More data collection on groundwater quality/recharge and enhancing outreach activities were recommended as future requirements for sustainable groundwater management.

Technical Abstract: This manuscript aims to present the framework for the development of a four-stage tool for sustainable groundwater management as one of the highly interactive three-day workshop products. The four stages in the tool are (1) representing the target system, (2) description of the target system using components of DPSIR framework (drivers, pressures, state, impact, responses), (3) development of causal chains/loops, and (4) identifying knowledge gaps and articulating next steps. The tool is an output from the two-day Indo-US bilateral workshop on "Integrated Hydrochemical Modeling for Sustainable Development and Management of Water Supply Aquifers”. Four case studies from the invited talks, panel discussions, and breakout sessions were selected to demonstrate the developed four-stage framework to a coastal aquifer (India) and in high plains in Floridian, Piedmont, and Blueridge aquifers (United States of America). The developed tool can be practically used in the development of strategies for the sustainable use of groundwater in various regions around the world (e.g., planning/building/maintaining groundwater recharging structures). Continued work can result in establishing a center for excellence as well as developing a network project. The recommendations from the workshop were: (1) developing vulnerability analysis models for groundwater managers; (2) treatment and new ways of using low-quality groundwater; (3) adopting groundwater recharge; (4) mitigating pollutants getting into the aquifer; and (5) reducing groundwater use. This study provides a framework for future researchers to study the groundwater table related to the effectiveness of water recharging structures, developing a quantitative model from the framework. Finally, recommendations for a future study are more data collection on groundwater quality/recharge as well as enhancing outreach activities for sustainable groundwater management.