Topic

Groundwater

Groundwater is water stored beneath the land surface in saturated layers of rock, sand and gravel, known as aquifers. It supplies drinking water, supports agriculture and industry, and sustains rivers and ecosystems. Protecting this resource requires decisions that connect water use, pollution prevention and land-use planning.

Rustic water well in the Sahara Desert, Merzouga, southeastern Morocco. — Photo: Alessandro V

Why groundwater matters

Groundwater can provide a buffer during dry periods, when rainfall and surface water supplies decline. Its availability depends on local geology, how much water enters the aquifer through recharge, and how much is withdrawn. Some aquifers replenish slowly, so groundwater cannot always replace other supplies indefinitely.

Groundwater also connects with rivers, lakes and wetlands. Pumping and pollution can therefore affect both water users and ecosystems beyond the point where water is taken or contamination occurs. Managing these connections is important for reliable supplies and long-term water security.

The governance challenge

Because groundwater lies underground, information about its extent, quality and use is often incomplete. Responsibilities may be divided between authorities overseeing water supply, agriculture, land use and environmental protection. Individual wells draw on a shared resource, making coordination and monitoring essential.

Effective groundwater governance connects evidence with clear responsibilities and decisions about abstraction, recharge and pollution risks. It also involves the people who use and depend on the resource. SIWI’s publication on groundwater conditions and governance in Sweden highlights the need for better data, stronger coordination and greater awareness.

Aquifers can also cross national borders. Cooperation between countries helps build a shared understanding of these resources and their use, while considering the needs of communities on both sides of a border.

How SIWI contributes

SIWI connects knowledge, policy and practice to strengthen groundwater governance. Its work examines how institutions, information and cooperation can support sustainable use, protect water quality and connect groundwater with wider water and land-use decisions.

Through Swedish Water House, SIWI has brought together public authorities, researchers, businesses and other organizations to exchange knowledge on groundwater. This collaboration produced guidance for municipalities on sustainable groundwater management, including presentation materials and a factsheet in Swedish. The materials explain groundwater’s importance for drinking water, drought resilience and municipal planning.

SIWI also examines the international dimensions of groundwater governance. Its recommendations on cross-border groundwater cooperation and human rights draw on cooperation between Ethiopia and Djibouti, highlighting the importance of aquifer assessments, information sharing and consideration of local communities’ needs.