Towards sustainable groundwater management in Asian cities

In several Asian cities, groundwater has been instrumental for socio-economic development by meeting the water demand of various sectors. Under growing pressures such as increasing populations, higher living standards and industrialization, signs of unsustainable groundwater use have emerged: a decline in the groundwater level, land subsidence and the deterioration of water quality from contamination by both natural sources and human activities. Measures to limit withdrawal, such as licensing systems and charging schemes, have been implemented. The success of these initiatives should be looked at through a local rather than a regional lens because of varying levels of surface water and groundwater availability as well as different policy and agency coordination issues in specific contexts. Changing the business-as-usual emphasis on water development over water management will be important for Asian cities in the future, as it will be for other regions around the world.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Clean Water and Sanitation