Groundwater is an important but finite water resource that is vulnerable to pollution and depletion. Sustainable groundwater management requires adaptive management approaches, scientific tools to monitor resources, and integrated basin management. A successful case in Spain used remote sensing data, GIS mapping of irrigation needs, and collective action through water user associations to stabilize groundwater levels after overexploitation. Key conditions for collective action include clearly defined resource boundaries, monitoring, and graduated sanctions.

1. by
Manuel Pulido-Velazquez
Ass. Prof. / Vicedirector, Research Inst. Water Engineering and Environment (IIAMA)
UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNIA de VALÈNCIA, Spain. Email: mapuve@upv.espv.es
ETH Zurich, Photrack AG, Zürich, Switzerland
Davis, October 6, 2015

2. Strategic Importance of GW
 High quality-reliable water for human supply
 Crop irrigation at reasonable cost (silent revolution)
 Ecosystems (GDE)
 Buffer value against droughts
But finite & vulnerable … pollution and depletion
 Safe Yield -> Sustainable Development
2

3. 3
DIFFICULTIES for SUSTAINABLE GWM
 Different timescales
 LT goals ?
 Tragedy of the commons (CPR)
 Limited knowledge / uncertainties
 Environmental-economic-social impacts

4. 4
CONDITIONS for SUSTAINABLE GWM
 Adaptive management
 Scientific methods and tools (inform./models/DSS)
 S-D alternatives / economic instruments
 GW governance: legal & institutional changes
(stakeholder involvement, self-governance)
 Integrated basinwide management - CU

5. 5
SUCESSFUL control of GW overexploitation -
Mancha Oriental (Spain)
 120,000 ha. irr crops, 10,000 km2, 350 mm/yr
 Steady increase of GW abstraction since 80s
 Participatory process: low but stable GW levels
 Key issues for success:
o RS data & GIS: advise on irrigation requirements /
quantify GW abstractions (cost 60x lower)
o Collective actions (Ostrom’s 7 conditions)

6. 6
Ostrom’s 7 conditions that favor collective
actions:
 Clearly boundaries
 Collective agreements
 Monitoring
 Graduated sanctions
 Conflict resolutions mechanisms
 Nested enterprises
 Recognition of rights to organize

7. 7
SUCESSFUL control of GW overexploitation -
Mancha Oriental
 Key issues for success:
o RS data & GIS: advise on irrigation requirements /
quantify GW abstractions (cost 60x lower)
o Collective actions (Ostrom’s 8 conditions): GWUA
& authorities (stabilize WT, avoid adjudication):
inventory wells & users / annual GW abstract. plans
illegal users & sanctions / eff monitoring abstract.

8. 8
CONCLUSIONS
 Sustainable GWM, complex wicked problem –
transdisciplinary imagination
o Scientific methods, tools, monitoring
o Innovative management strategies (ec.
instruments, effective CU)
o Institutional & legal reforms: self-regulation
(GWUA) in coordination with water authorities,
under strong and clear regulatory framework