The Twelve 12 Underlying Principles of Groundwater Management

The sustainability of groundwater as a domestic source of water is sometimes questioned because of the regular failure of water supply from groundwater to communities. The sustainability of the supply from groundwater sources cannot be only linked to the amount of groundwater that is abstracted from the aquifer but is directly linked to the management of the external environment around the aquifer or wellfield. The basic understanding and the complexity of groundwater management, the various aspects of groundwater management that can be identified and addressed in a management plan, and that can be implemented in a specific time frame, is the aim of this study. The concept of ‘management’, including the difference between management and governance and how the difference is managed at a local scale, provides a clear understanding for which groundwater management actions the Local Authority responsible for. The concept of groundwater management is divided into twelve principles and described in detail to explain the notion of each principle for when the management objectives are developed during the plan. The external drivers and legal framework setting that influences groundwater management are also explored.