Groundwater Monitoring

"Groundwater is monitored around the world by measuring groundwater levels, groundwater abstraction rates, spring discharge and groundwater quality. Globally, there is no sufficient knowledge about the state and trends of groundwater resources, primarily due to:
• insufficient monitoring
• limited accessibility to monitoring data/outcomes
Monitoring of groundwater is more challenging than monitoring of surface water (river and lakes): initial investments(e.g. drilling a borehole) are larger, spatial representativeness of monitoring points (due to hydrogeological heterogeneity) is smaller and assistance of remote sensing (so helpful to surface water observations) is limited." (IGRAC 2020)

Sources

International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC). 2020. “National Groundwater Monitoring Programmes: A Global Overview of Quantitative Groundwater Monitoring Networks.”
 

Related Content

Article

Event

Project / Mission / Initiative / Community Portal

Global Gravity-based Groundwater Product

Groundwater is an essential factor for ecosystems and humanity alike. It ensures ecosystem stability, energy and food security, and promotes human health. Groundwater is the largest component of global liquid freshwater resources in the water cycle, providing about 30% of the total freshwater. Groundwater accounts for 33% of the global water withdrawals by mankind, with more than two billion people depending on groundwater as primary water resource. However, despite its importance, groundwater is often not included in sustainable water management actions and plans.

Stakeholder

International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals

With the aim of addressing global challenges in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, CBAS is committed to harnessing big data to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing technological barriers and filling in data gaps. Since its inauguration, CBAS identified key areas of interest and has made significant progress. 

International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre

The International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) facilitates and promotes international sharing of information and knowledge required for sustainable groundwater resources development and management worldwide. Since 2003, IGRAC provides an independent content and process support, focusing particularly on trans-boundary aquifer assessment and groundwater monitoring.