Adapting to the global groundwater crisis - Its usage needs to be regulated and monitored

The global groundwater crisis centers on withdrawals notably exceeding short term renewable storage. The current global groundwater crisis reflects the fact that over the past century, groundwater withdrawal has grown to exceed natural renewable groundwater storage. The single most important cause is the deep well turbine pump. Groundwater depletion is very high in both the United States and India.

For water management the optimal use of finite groundwater supplies through coordinated use of surface water and groundwater storage is emerging as important. In the United States, efficent integrated water management practices such as that of Santa Clara Valley exist though are difficult to replicate elsewhere.

There are some more encouraging signs bringing the overuse of groundwater under scrutiny and regulation such as through water related programs, committees and legislations and serious attention paid by states to regulate and monitor groundwater usage.

But most importantly expectations of steady economic growth rates require a continual increase in water availability which is not sustainable and therefore needs to be decreased.

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