Rethinking the approach to groundwater and food security to understanding the dynamics of groundwater resources- by Food and Agriculture Organization (2003)

Complex flow within aquifers require relatively simple data for careful analysis and interpretation of groundwater dynamics

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20 May 2009, 5:07 am

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This chapter from the book 'Rethinking the approach to groundwater and food security' by FAO informs that the complexity of flow within aquifers requires extensive data and detailed modelling to answer development questions and that even with this, accurate analysis of the water balance is often complicated by inflows and losses that are difficult to identify, monitor or interpret. However, relatively simple data, such as specific water levels in a carefully designed network of monitoring wells, can be combined with estimates of rainfall input to provide key indications of groundwater dynamics.

However, argues the chapter, unless monitoring networks are designed carefully and the data subject to careful analysis, water-level changes can be difficult to interpret. Long-term records of water-level changes are probably the single most important piece of data necessary to monitor changes in groundwater availability. However, having such information is only the first step. In addition, there needs to be a clear mechanism to feed the information into formal planning processes. The mechanism also needs to ensurethat data are transparently available to the user groups whose consensus would be required for effective action to limit drawdown to commonly acceptable levels.

The chapter is divided into the following sections: