How The Groundwater Relief Reach Vulnerable People Across The Globe

World Water Day is held on 22 March every year since 1993. It celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion persons currently living without access to safe water. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030.

World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. The theme also sets the focus for the annual World Water Development Report. An annual theme is proposed by UN-Water Members and Partners two to three years in advance. At its meeting in Rome, UN-Water decided that “Groundwater: making the invisible visible” will be the theme for World Water Day 2022.

According to UN-Water, groundwater provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, about 40% of water for irrigated agriculture and about 1/3 of water supply required for the industry. Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere. Out of sight, under our feet, groundwater is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives. In the driest parts of the world, it may be the only water people have.

Since it is stated that the community activities over-use are the ones that pollute groundwater, and groundwater is not well known outside the circle of hydrogeologists, the scientists of survey and management of groundwater resources, Mohammed, a journalist who reports on the human rights to safe water and sanitation, think that it is not only the duty of groundwater professionals to protect this valuable resource for future generations, it is the duty to all of us. Also, community participation is crucial in protecting and conserving groundwater resources for future generations.

Mohammed speaks with Mr. Geraint Burrows, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Groundwater Relief organization based in the United Kingdom, with the aim of educating the local community about the importance of protecting and conserving groundwater resources.

“Groundwater is water stored underground. When it rains — some water will run off the land into water courses. Some will be retained in soils and used by plants. Some will percolate through the soils and down into the ground until it reaches the water table — below which all the pores and fractures in the rock are fully saturated with water. This is groundwater.” Said Mr. Geraint who is a hydrogeologist and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) engineer, when Mohammed asked him to explain what the groundwater is.

Groundwater is a good source of water as it is naturally filtered, can be stored in large volumes, and is safe from evaporation in dry climates and especially with changes to the climate. Added Mr. Burrows when he was explaining the benefits of groundwater to the community.

About the safety of drinking water from groundwater sources said that “Generally yes, it is the safest source of water (when comparing to surface water sources) — however in certain locations groundwater may be contaminated by natural or man-made contaminants. It is good to check the water source for pollution before using it as a source of drinking water”

You may also ask yourself if groundwater is polluted, what will happen or what is the environmental impact? Mr. Geraint who has also experience developing and managing small to large scale groundwater supply projects all over Africa and Asia says, “Groundwater contaminated by — pesticides, chemical spills, leakage from pit latrines can be unsafe for direct consumption.”

Mr. Geraint added that the community can help to keep the groundwater supply safe from pollution by being careful with how they dispose of chemical contaminants and how they use fertilizers and pesticides. “Don’t put pit latrines close to your key wells. Protect the wells with a cover and educate farmers to improve the way they use pesticides and fertilisers to reduce the risks of contamination”

And if the community is willing to participate, what are the ways they can protect and conserve groundwater? Mohammed asked Mr. Geraint who said that “Monitoring water levels is the best way to understand what is happening to your underlying water resources. Groundwater Relief is designing a phone application to support community monitoring of groundwater resources. Tree planting can improve water retention and reduce surface water runoff. Improved irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation can reduce overall groundwater use”

“Understand more about groundwater, educate, monitor the groundwater over a long period, share information with other communities nearby and create village champions to lead the way in the community taking responsibility for understanding their groundwater.” Was the call of Groundwater Relief to the community in protecting groundwater.

The organization also provides technical support to organizations engaged in supplying water to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

Via its membership of over 400 technical experts, Groundwater Relief helps organizations construct and manage groundwater infrastructure in a professional, responsible, cost-effective, and sustainable way, engaging local authorities, companies, and institutions.

Their members work within water utilities, mineral extraction companies, environmental consultancies, oil and gas companies, government and educational institutions from across the globe. They come from over 27 different countries and speak over 33 different languages.

Join them now: https://groundwater-relief.org/join-us