Groundwater management

Historically, the question of managing access to water resources was first raised for river water, which is closely linked to the climatic conditions of the moment, and for water delivered by man-made distribution systems. It is only more recently that the management of groundwater has been considered, as it is less subject to problems of cyclical shortage (except for the water tables accompanying rivers). In the majority of cases, access to groundwater is made on an individual basis, with each user (particularly in agriculture) accessing it by drilling at the place of his needs. But these underground resources also require management, because they are increasingly exploited and sometimes even overexploited.

This module addresses the issue of groundwater resources management by first presenting what each discipline of physical sciences (geology-hydrogeology, geochemistry, isotopy) and their tools brings to the knowledge of aquifers (at the geological level: outcrop, drilling, logging, seismic profiles ...; at the hydrogeological level: piezometry, pumping test, sampling points / outlets, quantities withdrawn ...): geometry, structure and hydrological functioning.

It then outlines the value of groundwater to the various uses that mobilize it. The economic value of groundwater is thus studied in this section (Qureshi et al., 2012). The difficulties of knowing about these groundwater withdrawals and the methods that can be used to reveal them are also specified.

It then describes the various problems posed by aquifers: current or future overexploitation of groundwater, degradation of groundwater quality, threat of saltwater intrusion, salinization of soils, etc.

Finally, it identifies the various methods for rebalancing groundwater supply and demand. Firstly, it sets out the means of increasing water supply (active management of groundwater, substitutions between resources) or avoiding the contamination of good quality water by less good quality water. Examples: active management of karstic aquifers (Lez system), artificial recharge (e.g. Seine catchment fields in Paris), inter-seasonal / inter-annual recharge (Llobregat, Catalonia), recharge with wastewater (California), damming to avoid contamination of freshwater by saltwater.

Secondly, it traces the solutions acting on water demand. These solutions are based on two drivers of individual decisions, which can sometimes be combined: maximization of individual utility and inclusion in a society that induces "pro-social" behavior. Solutions that act directly on the demand for groundwater (pricing, quotas, trading of water rights) will be explored, as well as indirect solutions (purchase of land that can protect a resource, agricultural or energy policies that can positively or negatively influence the development of individual abstractions, etc.).

Knowledge of the different aspects of groundwater management: knowledge of the multidimensional aspect of groundwater management; knowledge of the different tools that can be used to better manage groundwater; knowledge of different cases of groundwater management and ability to analyze the factors of success and failure of management.

Various speakers (teachers and at least one professional) participate in this module which combines lectures (and a TD) with interventions by students of the master who are entrusted, in groups of 2 to 3 or alone, with cases or specific questions that will illustrate the course. The course will be given in French. However, oral and written presentations may be made in English if the students prefer.

Required prerequisites*:

No particular pre-requisites due to the multidisciplinary registration of this module.

Recommended prerequisites*:

Some possible readings:

Molle F., López-Gunn E. and Van Steenbergen F. The local and national politics of groundwater overexploitation. In Water Alternatives, 2018, 11(3), 445-457

Hérivaux C. and Gauthey J. The benefits of groundwater protection: why and how to give them a monetary value? French Agency for Biodiversity, Paris, September 2018, 72 p., https://professionnels.afbiodiversite.fr/fr/node/339

Rinaudo J.-D., Holley C., Montginoul M. and Barnett S. Sustainable groundwater management: a comparative analysis of French and Australian policies and implications to other countries. Springer, 2020 (from which the majority of the case studies are taken) https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030327651

But also do not hesitate to watch films or documentaries on the issue. Some suggestions available on the site: http: //www.water-alternatives.org/

The knowledge assessment has three components:

• An evaluation of the preparatory work for the module that will have been given to each participant (or to groups of participants previously designated): each group is asked to send before the beginning of the module a file (generally in a 4-page format completed with an evaluation grid of the groundwater management case they were asked to deal with).
• During the session, students will be individually invited to present part of their preparatory work.
• Finally, an individual written essay will be required at the end of the module to verify the students' mastery of the concepts and notions explored throughout the module. This will be done in the form of a paper with a specific deadline.

Physical and human aspects, economic evaluation, supply management, demand management

Physical and human aspects, economic valuation, supply and demand management