Proceedings of the 5th
I nternational S ymposium
on M anagement of A quifer R echarge
ISMAR5, Berlin, Germany, 11–16 June 2005
IHP-VI, Series on Groundwater No. 13
Recharge systems
for protecting and enhancing
groundwater resources
The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO, FAO and UNECE, in particular
concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Published in 2004 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP
Layout by Marina Rubio 93200 Saint-Denis
© UNESCO 2006
Organising Committee
Francis Luck, KompetenzZentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbH (Chair) Martin Jekel, Technical University of Berlin (Co-Chair)
Ivan Johnson, ASCE (Co-Chair)
Organisation Board
Birgit Fritz (Chair), Susanne Fildebrandt, Monika Hörner, Bodo Weigert, KompetenzZentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbH
Asaf Pekdeger, Freie Universität Berlin Bernd Heinzmann, Berliner Wasserbetriebe
Hans-Jorgen Albrechtsen, Denmark Gary Amy, USA
Philip Berger, USA Alain Bourg, France Frantisek Buzek, Czech Republik
Lucila Candela Lledo, Spain Jesus Carrera, Spain Christian Daughton, USA
Peter Dillon, Australia Jörg Drewes, USA Peter Engesgaard, Denmark
Birgit Fritz, Germany Ian Gale, UK Martin Jekel, Germany Zdenek Herrmann, Czech Republik
Eduard Hoehn, Switzerland Janusz Kindler, Poland
Irena Kopac, Slovenia Gislain de Marsily, France
Illka Miettinen, Finland Igor Mucha, Slovakia Gunnar Nützmann, Germany Theo Olsthoorn, The Netherlands
Paul Pavelic, Australia Asaf Pekdeger, Germany
Chittaranjan Ray, USA Frank Remmler,Germany Craig T. Simmons, Australia Pieter Stuyfzand, The Netherlands
Simon Toze, Australia Gideon Tredoux , South Africa
Bernhard Wett,Austria Jürgen Zobrist, Switzerland
Scientific Committee
Sponsors
Co-organisers
NWRI National Water Research Institute
Preface
The principle objective behind UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) has always been to develop a solid scientific and technological base for a sound management of water resources. Both aspects of quantity and quality of water resources are being addressed in the programme, while at the same time taking into account protection of the environment.
The availability of quality freshwater resources is a decisive factor for sustained socio-economic development. Now, more than ever, it is this solid scientific knowledge base that is required to support political and economic strategies on which the future of mankind may well depend. Management Aquifer Recharge (MAR), in particular, is a flexible model that can be applied on a number of different levels: from the smallest check dams to schemes supplying some of the largest cities in the world with populations in their millions. MAR is being applied extensively through traditional techniques in many parts of the world; an accumulated set of experiences from which we can still learn.
However, irrespective of the level of sophistication at which MAR is applied, scientific research is important to evaluate the performance of different MAR systems under different conditions.
We should bear in mind the importance of groundwater in sustainable integrated water resources management, especially in arid areas, where it forms the only source of fresh water. The IHP works with partners to compile inventories, develop guidelines and publish good experiences to support the sound use and careful protection of this precious resource. The use of MAR has opened up a variety of possibilities to extend inadequate groundwater resources by increasing the rate of groundwater formation or by using the capacity of soil to improve the quality of water. Particular focus should be given to the dissemination of information regarding practices, such as aquifer recharge using treated water that can be employed to increase the availability of groundwater resources. There are many uses for MAR as a means of improving the quality of our water. Increased experience in the field of water reuse will undoubtedly help us expand water resources, while avoiding any compromise to individual health.
The series of MAR symposia has established itself as an important mechanism by which to report on state-of-the-art techniques in managing aquifer recharge. The 5th International Symposium on Managing Artificial Recharge of Groundwater (ISMAR-5) in Berlin, June 2005, was a welcome and timely event that allowed us to review advancements in such techniques made in the three years following the 4th International Symposium on Artificial Recharge of Groundwater (ISAR-4), held in Adelaide in September 2002 and also endorsed by the IHP.
I wish to thank the organizers of the symposium for their tremendous effort in contributing to IHP and congratulate them on the symposium that was both geographically extensive and thematically wide-ranging.
Andras Szöllösi-Nagy Secretary International Hydrological Programme
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
