The planning process for groundwater resources management

Abstract

Groundwater development has long been directed to satisfying the demands without taking into account the scarcity of this natural resource. As a result groundwater resources are being over‐exploited in many areas, especially in arid and semi‐arid regions. Sustainable water resources development requires a broader scope and an integrated approach to water resources planning. Relevant elements in integrated water resources management are water conservation, the role of surface water, water quality, demand and supply management, institutional organization and the role of the beneficiaries.