International groundwater research

Groundwater provides drinking water for over two billion people around the world and is essential for irrigating 40 per cent of the world’s crops, as well as supporting many other industrial uses. Despite this, it continues to be poorly understood, lacks effective management and is subject to significant pollution pressures. As a result, it has become an unsustainable resource in many areas of the world, even though the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise water as being key to sustainable development, with SDG 6 being ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’. Water also underpins many of the other SDGs.

BGS recognises that, whilst groundwater underpins many livelihoods in our world, the sustainable development of the resource is not trivial. Critically, it depends on an understanding of the hydrogeology of the local area.

We have a long history of international development activity throughout the world in sustainably developing and managing groundwater resources. Our projects span a wide range of subject areas, reflecting our breadth of expertise and the range of issues facing many in the world. They include:

• mapping groundwater resources and helping provide the tools and training needed to develop groundwater resources
• assessing and understanding natural groundwater quality issues, such as fluoride and arsenic
• helping to monitor groundwater pollution and finding ways to protect groundwater resources
• researching how groundwater resources are affected by droughts, changing land use and climate change
• examining ways of incorporating groundwater resources in integrated water and resources management in ways that are appropriate to individual areas and countries
• working in interdisciplinary teams with socio-economists and political scientists to ensure that solutions are sought that are truly appropriate and sustainable
• sharing data and information

The Africa Groundwater Atlas and Literature Archive aims to provide detailed and appropriate information on African groundwater resources.