This paper describes the current groundwater situation and warns that the unsustainable use of groundwater stands to significantly impact a host of hydrological, ecological and other natural resources and services, including freshwater bodies, and aquatic, riparian, transitional, and terrestrial ecosystems. Baseflow will decrease and wetlands will disappear, streams and rivers will degrade, channel erosion will increase, and wildlife habitat will be reduced. Other impacts include drying up of wells, salt-water intrusion in coastal areas, and land subsidence. The sustainable use of groundwater should begin by tapping primarily deep percolation, and secondarily shallow percolation. The latter should be exploited only if its effects on the baseflow of neighboring streams and water bodies are shown to be minimal. Detailed hydrological and hydrogeological studies are required to determine the percolation amounts. In the absence of basin-specific studies, global values of deep percolation may be used to establish an initial, reference estimate of sustainable yield.

Baseline and time-dependent hydrological and hydroecological studies are necessary to assess and monitor the effect of groundwater use on local freshwater bodies, ecosystems, and geomorphology. To guarantee sustainability, these studies should accompany planned groundwater development.

A contaminated aquifer cannot be used as a resource. Therefore, every effort should be taken to ensure that both groundwater quantity and quality are preserved for the benefit of present and future generations, urges the paper.

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