The United Nations has released the 2022 UN World Water Development Report on “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible” during the opening session of the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal, held today on 21 March 2022.
The report describes the challenges and opportunities associated with the development, management and governance of groundwater throughout the world.
-In Europe, sustainable groundwater management is mainly linked to drinking water purposes and public health. Diffuse pollution not only N+P but also emerging ones such as chemicals, PFAS and pharmaceuticals from industries are the main challenges with groundwater availability in the Mediterranean region.
-There is a need for better-standardised data, its collection and exchange, particularly in the context of transboundary management.
-An early-stage detection of groundwater-related challenges – via digital tools for instance – can be highly cost efficient.
-Local context adaption with a comprehensive approach of the targeted area and its value-chain is paramount for a sustainable management.
-Key role of the regional/transnational organisation, particularly through R&D&I projects for the collection of harmonised data and the deployment of solutions.
