Development of partnership on groundwater issues between the countries (EU and non) EU of the Mediterranean region Development of partnership on groundwater.

Development of partnership Development of partnership

on groundwater issues on groundwater issues between the countries between the countries

(EU and non) EU of the Mediterranean (EU and non) EU of the Mediterranean regionregion

GW5: The MED-EUWI Groundwater GW5: The MED-EUWI Groundwater Working GroupWorking Group

Brussels, October 2005Brussels, October 2005

CISMED JOINT PROCESS

GW5:

MED-EUWI Groundwater WG

WFD CIS WG C (Groundwater)

GW1: Monitoring

GW2: Protected areas

GW3: Direct/indirect Inputs

GW4: Status and Trends

MED EUWI / WFD Joint Process

Water ScarcityWG

Rural Development/Agriculture WG

GW5: The MED-EUWI Groundwater WG

FINAL OUTPUTFINAL OUTPUT

MEDITERRANEAN DOCUMENT ON MEDITERRANEAN DOCUMENT ON GROUNDWATER:GROUNDWATER:

Technical specifications and specific Technical specifications and specific recommendations on issues relating to recommendations on issues relating to groundwater resources management in groundwater resources management in the Mediterranean region, based on the the Mediterranean region, based on the WFD approach and the regional WFD approach and the regional conditions. conditions.

PRIORITY ISSUES – PRIORITY ISSUES – CHAPTERS OF THE MED DOCUMENTCHAPTERS OF THE MED DOCUMENT

Over exploitation of groundwater resourcesOver exploitation of groundwater resourcesDeterioration in groundwater quality Deterioration in groundwater quality (Saline water intrusion, (Saline water intrusion, chemical GW pollution, protected areas) chemical GW pollution, protected areas) Groundwater monitoring and Groundwater monitoring and data data managementmanagementInternational cooperationInternational cooperationInstitutional aspectsInstitutional aspects

PROGRESS PROGRESS

Identification of the main “contributors” for Identification of the main “contributors” for each chapter of the final report each chapter of the final report (Mediterranean Document on Groundwater)(Mediterranean Document on Groundwater)

Drafting of the first elements of the final Drafting of the first elements of the final reportreport

Development and operation of electronic page Development and operation of electronic page and forum (hosted by EMWIS):and forum (hosted by EMWIS):

http://www.emwis.org/GroundWaterHome.htmhttp://www.emwis.org/GroundWaterHome.htm

WAY FORWARDWAY FORWARD

Drafting of the different chapters of the Drafting of the different chapters of the Med document on GW (final report by Med document on GW (final report by June 2006)June 2006)

First draft report until November 2005First draft report until November 2005 to to be presented in the EU-MED WDs Forum be presented in the EU-MED WDs Forum (Rome, 24-25/11/05)(Rome, 24-25/11/05)

Meetings / workshops for discussions Meetings / workshops for discussions between the WG members and GW between the WG members and GW expertsexperts

Groundwater resources in the Mediterranean Groundwater resources in the Mediterranean region (% of the total renewable resources)region (% of the total renewable resources)

GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGIONTHE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Groundwater resources represent more than Groundwater resources represent more than 21% of the total renewable resources in 21% of the total renewable resources in Mediterranean countries, with very wide Mediterranean countries, with very wide variations from one to another countryvariations from one to another country

Almost 10% of groundwater resources in Almost 10% of groundwater resources in Mediterranean countries come from non Mediterranean countries come from non renewable resourcesrenewable resources

GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGIONTHE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Aquifers over-exploitation is considerable in Aquifers over-exploitation is considerable in many Mediterranean countriesmany Mediterranean countries

Coastal aquifers suffer from over-exploitation Coastal aquifers suffer from over-exploitation due to the concentration of agriculture and due to the concentration of agriculture and tourism in coastal areastourism in coastal areas

Coastal groundwater has been reduced to Coastal groundwater has been reduced to below sea level by excessive pumping inbelow sea level by excessive pumping in many many parts of the regionparts of the region

Areas of groundwater overexploitation and salinisationAreas of groundwater overexploitation and salinisation

GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGIONTHE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Agriculture is by far the most important Agriculture is by far the most important groundwater use activity in the Mediterranean groundwater use activity in the Mediterranean regionregion Agriculture withdrawals represent 58% of total Agriculture withdrawals represent 58% of total groundwater withdrawals in the Mediterranean groundwater withdrawals in the Mediterranean countries countries Agricultural activities not only threaten the Agricultural activities not only threaten the availability (quantity) but also the quality of availability (quantity) but also the quality of groundwater due to the extensive use of groundwater due to the extensive use of fertilisers, pesticides and release of olive-oil-mill fertilisers, pesticides and release of olive-oil-mill wasteswastes

Sectorial Water Demand distribution in Mediterranean countries (%)Sectorial Water Demand distribution in Mediterranean countries (%)

GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN THE MEDITERRANEANTHE MEDITERRANEAN

Current situation:Current situation:Groundwater monitoring has become a standard practice only Groundwater monitoring has become a standard practice only in certain parts of the region.in certain parts of the region.In many parts of the region, no significant and systematic In many parts of the region, no significant and systematic groundwater monitoring going ongroundwater monitoring going on or only project-wise or or only project-wise or problem-driven. problem-driven. Until recently many monitoring networks in the region were Until recently many monitoring networks in the region were developed for the assessment only of the groundwater developed for the assessment only of the groundwater quantitative status (water level). Groundwater quality quantitative status (water level). Groundwater quality management became an issue only recently.management became an issue only recently.There is a lack of standard groundwater monitoring There is a lack of standard groundwater monitoring procedures and thus datasets from different part of the region, procedures and thus datasets from different part of the region, in many cases, can not be compared.in many cases, can not be compared.

GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN THE MEDITERRANEANTHE MEDITERRANEAN

Current situation:Current situation:

The situation is rather different in the north The situation is rather different in the north Mediterranean countries (EU Member States), where Mediterranean countries (EU Member States), where groundwater management comes under the EU groundwater management comes under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), which requires Water Framework Directive (WFD), which requires the formal implementation of long-term monitoring the formal implementation of long-term monitoring activities. Groundwater monitoring strategies are activities. Groundwater monitoring strategies are under revision or amendment, in order to be in line under revision or amendment, in order to be in line with the requirements of the WFD.with the requirements of the WFD.

GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN THE MEDITERRANEANTHE MEDITERRANEAN

Existing data are not sufficient or reliable Existing data are not sufficient or reliable enough to plan regional actions for the enough to plan regional actions for the sustainable use of groundwater. The lack of sustainable use of groundwater. The lack of sufficient and reliable data causes a sufficient and reliable data causes a considerable risk of deterioration of the considerable risk of deterioration of the groundwater status, both quantity and groundwater status, both quantity and quality, without sufficient warning.quality, without sufficient warning.

GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN THE MEDITERRANEANTHE MEDITERRANEAN

Transboundary aquifers:Transboundary aquifers:

Although there are some good examples of ongoing Although there are some good examples of ongoing programmes on transboundary water cooperation programmes on transboundary water cooperation in the region, such activities are scarce and lack in the region, such activities are scarce and lack coordination. coordination.

Harmonisation of network design, measurement Harmonisation of network design, measurement frequency, standards, quality control and data frequency, standards, quality control and data storage and processing will be needed for setting up storage and processing will be needed for setting up efficient transboundary groundwater monitoring.efficient transboundary groundwater monitoring.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONATTENTION

http://www.emwis.org/GroundWaterHome.htmhttp://www.emwis.org/GroundWaterHome.htm