Hydrogeological Characteristics of Transboundary Aquifers

International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre

Dr Neno Kukuric Paris, May 2007

IGRAC and TBA Activities

IGRAC is an UNESCO and WMO groundwater knowledge centre, financially supported by the government of the Netherlands and hosted by the Netherlands Organisation of Applied Research TNO.

ISARM: Core Group participation and the Portal development

GEF IW-LEARN: Lesson Learned from TBA projects

UN ILC: assistance in development of a Legal Document on groundwater WHYMAP: development of

Transboundary Aquifer Systems map ISARM: TBA Course Material ISARM: Regional Activities

ISARM Programme UNESCO and IAH global initiative for their identification,

assessment and sound management of internationally shared groundwater resources.

Hydrogeological aspect

Legal aspect

Socio-economic aspect

Institutional aspect

Environmental aspect

TBA Hydrogeological Aspect Aquifers: (mostly dynamic) subsurface reservoirs of water.

Input variables(recharge)

Output variables(discharge)

State variables (e.g. level and temperature)

State parameters(e.g. conductivity)

TBA Hydrogeological Aspect The fact: many aquifers cross the political boundaries

Potential cross-boundary problems: changes in groundwater flows, levels, volumes (quantity) and dissolved substances (quality).

The action: TBA characterisation and appropriate management.

The benefits: eliminating potential sources of conflict and improving the overall benefit from groundwater.

TBA Characterisation Challenges Invisible groundwater Usually slow changes Various approaches to aquifer characterisation Lack of information Political will …

TBA CharacterisationStandardised Presentation of a TBA

◄ Physiography, Demography & Water Use

◄ Geological Setting of Aquifer

◄ Water Quantity & Quality

◄ Importance and need for TBA

◄ TBA cooperation

◄ References

◄ Authors

TBA CharacterisationStandardised Description of a TBA

TBA characterisation (delineation and description)

TBA diagnostics (classification and prioritisation of aquifers)

International TBA consultation and management mechanisms

Harmonisation of TBA data and information

Improving accessibility of TBA data and information

TBA Hydrogeological Aspect

TBA Hydrogeological Aspect

Overview of TBA Activities

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Government of The Netherlands

World Meteorological Organization

Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research

Thank you for your attention