News
Conclusions of the World Water Development Report on groundwater presented in the Republic of Korea
News
Launch of the Italian translation of the UN World Water Development Report 2022
The translation of the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022 in Italian was presented on 22 March on occasion of World Water Day
Press release
New report: Is the solution to water crises hiding right under our feet?
Groundwater accounts for 99 of all liquid freshwater on Earth However this natural resource is often poorly understood and consequently undervalued mismanaged and even abused According to the latest edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report published by UNESCO the vast potential of groundwater and the need to manage it sustainably can no longer be overlooked
Groundwater uses and benefits
The capacity of groundwater systems to offer various services and benefits to societies depends on their geographically varying properties and it is influenced by natural and human processes
The way forward
Unlocking groundwaters full potential what needs to be done
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Resources
Governance
Stable legal frameworks enable governments and groundwater users to plan for resources management over the long term and to deal with competing interests including those of the environment and of future generations
Climate change
Climate change directly impacts the natural recharge of groundwater which is replenished by precipitation directly and via leakage from surface waters
Ecosystems
The ecology of many wetlands lakes rivers and other surface water bodies is dependent on the complex interactions between groundwater and surface water
Industry
Groundwater is a key resource for many industries and contributes to employment and economic growth Various industrial processes make use of groundwater resources where surface water is limited in quantity but also where quality is important
Agriculture
Groundwater is a critical resource for irrigated agriculture livestock farming and food processing Its abstraction has played a major role in accelerating food production from the 1970s onwards especially in semiarid and arid areas with limited precipitation and surface water
UN World Water Development Report 2022
Groundwater, making the invisible visible
Unlocking the immense potential of groundwater today and protecting the resource for tomorrow