Groundwater as a source of drinking water in southeast Asia and the Pacific: A multi-country review of current reliance and resource concerns

Carrard, N; Foster, T; Willetts, J

Groundwater as a source of drinking water in southeast Asia and the Pacific: A multi-country review of current reliance and resource concerns

Carrard, N

Foster, T

Willetts, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Water (Switzerland), 2019, 11 (8)
Issue Date:: 2019-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Carrard, N https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3371-9113	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Foster, T https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1738-3450	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Willetts, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3975-9642	en_US
dc.date.issued	2019-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Water (Switzerland), 2019, 11 (8)	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135143
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 by the authors. Groundwater is widely acknowledged to be an important source of drinking water in low-income regions, and it, therefore, plays a critical role in the realization of the human right to water. However, the proportion of households using groundwater compared with other sources is rarely quantified, with national and global datasets more focused on facilities-rather than resources-used. This is a significant gap in knowledge, particularly in light of efforts to expand water services in line with the inclusive and integrated agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals. Understanding the prevalence of groundwater reliance for drinking is critical for those involved in water services planning and management, so they can better monitor and advocate for management of water resources that supports sustainable services for households. This paper contributes data that can be used to strengthen the integration of resource considerations within water service delivery and inform the work of development partners supporting this area. We approach this issue from two perspectives. Firstly, we collate data on the proportion of households using groundwater as their primary drinking water source for 10 Southeast Asian and Pacific nations, finding an average of 62% (range of 17-93% for individual countries) of households in urban areas and 60% (range of 22-95%) of households in rural areas rely on groundwater for drinking. Together, these constitute 79% of the total population across the case study countries. Secondly, we review current and emerging groundwater resource concerns within each country, using a systems thinking approach to assess how groundwater resource issues influence household water services. Findings support the case for governments and development agencies to strengthen engagement with groundwater resource management as foundational for achieving sustainable water services for all.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Water (Switzerland)	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/w11081605	en_US
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Groundwater as a source of drinking water in southeast Asia and the Pacific: A multi-country review of current reliance and resource concerns	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	8	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	11	en_US
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	8	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	11	en_US

Abstract:

© 2019 by the authors. Groundwater is widely acknowledged to be an important source of drinking water in low-income regions, and it, therefore, plays a critical role in the realization of the human right to water. However, the proportion of households using groundwater compared with other sources is rarely quantified, with national and global datasets more focused on facilities-rather than resources-used. This is a significant gap in knowledge, particularly in light of efforts to expand water services in line with the inclusive and integrated agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals. Understanding the prevalence of groundwater reliance for drinking is critical for those involved in water services planning and management, so they can better monitor and advocate for management of water resources that supports sustainable services for households. This paper contributes data that can be used to strengthen the integration of resource considerations within water service delivery and inform the work of development partners supporting this area. We approach this issue from two perspectives. Firstly, we collate data on the proportion of households using groundwater as their primary drinking water source for 10 Southeast Asian and Pacific nations, finding an average of 62% (range of 17-93% for individual countries) of households in urban areas and 60% (range of 22-95%) of households in rural areas rely on groundwater for drinking. Together, these constitute 79% of the total population across the case study countries. Secondly, we review current and emerging groundwater resource concerns within each country, using a systems thinking approach to assess how groundwater resource issues influence household water services. Findings support the case for governments and development agencies to strengthen engagement with groundwater resource management as foundational for achieving sustainable water services for all.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135143