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.
Groundwater pump in use. © Tarik Mahamat via pexels.com.
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
- Africa Groundwater Atlas
As part of World Water Day in 2023, BGS released a show case of groundwater photo stories celebrating the way groundwater development has benefitted many people.
Africa Groundwater Atlas and Literature Archive
The Africa Groundwater Atlas, compiled by the BGS, contains information of the hydrogeology of 51 African countries and provides links to a wider body of knowledge, including the Africa Groundwater Literature Archive. This archive is a searchable online database that catalogues nearly 7000 references for literature about groundwater in Africa, with thousands of links to free-to-download full text documents and abstracts.
The archive is funded by NERC’s UPGro research programme and the BGS National Capability programme.
The front page for the Africa Groundwater Atlas and Literature Archive. © BGS.
Africa Groundwater Atlas and Literature Archive. © BGS.
BGS Groundwater in the news
The solar pump revolution could bring water to millions of Africans but it must be sustainable and fair, Prof. Alan MacDonald in The Guardian
Solar power could enable 400 million Africans without water to tap into groundwater aquifers. However, we must ensure smaller projects do not lose out in the rush for new technology.
Miriam Sogoba is watering her market garden in the Segou region of Mali. This is part of a women’s association of 45 women. As well as pumping the groundwater, they monitor the rainfall and groundwater levels to help sustainability manage the water. “Since I joined the market garden. The money I have gained from the sale of vegetables has helped so much – buying clothes for the children and helping me buy a sheep and a goat”. © WaterAid – Segou region, Mali – Basile Ouedraog
BGS news and blogs
New research could help provide a more reliable water supply for millions in rural Africa
24/03/2026
A new BGS-led study has revealed crucial insights into the longstanding challenges affecting the reliability and performance of rural water supply infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa.
Extensive freshened water confirmed beneath the ocean floor off the coast of New England for the first time
09/02/2026
BGS is part of the international team that has discovered the first detailed evidence of long-suspected, hidden, freshwater aquifers.
Presence of harmful chemicals found in water sources across southern Indian capital, study finds
10/03/2025
Research has revealed the urgent need for improved water quality in Bengaluru and other Indian cities.
UK–Philippine partnership to help tackle the challenges of future water security in the Philippines
07/11/2024
New ‘hydrological hub’ to foster research and provide essential national water management datasets and tools.
A tale of two groundwaters
21/03/2023
Why the United Nations 2023 Water Conference needs to know more about groundwater.
World Water Day 2023: groundwater photo stories
22/03/2023
A showcase of groundwater use from around the world highlighting how developing groundwater has benefited the lives of many people.
A PhD in Peru: a country of contrasts
23/09/2022
PhD student Tom Gribbin explains his work on water security in the Peruvian ‘water towers’.
World Water Day
22/03/2021
Jade Ward shares an overview of the ways in which groundwater resources are helping to address worldwide issues such as the global water crisis, waterborne disease and climate change adaptation.
New method offers rapid monitoring of contamination in drinking water
20/10/2021
Scientists have developed an innovative new method to monitor the risk of contamination in drinking water with immediate results, enabling global communities to respond rapidly and help reduce exposure to deadly diarrhoeal diseases.
Sustainable groundwater management underpins food security in South Asia
01/06/2021
The most intensively cultivated areas of South Asia are crucial for regional food security and have become global hotspots of groundwater exploitation.