Abstract
Groundwater is the only source of water supply for some countries in the world and the main source for many other countries. Especially in the European Union and in the United States of America, the role of high-quality groundwater is fundamental for the drinking water supply, and this is true also for some countries in Asia, Africa and Australia. Thus, in a growing number of contexts, safeguarding drinking water supplies is strictly linked with the protection of local groundwater resources. The usage of groundwater for irrigation has also a relevant share in many countries, sometimes contributing to stress the resource. The assessment of groundwater vulnerability and the individuation of potential hazards are thus becoming common and often compelling issues. Given this particular background, this introductory chapter illustrates the motivational framework of this book and outlines its contents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Gleick PH (ed) (2014) The world’s water volume 8: the biennial report on freshwater resources. Island Press, Washington, DC. doi:10.5822/978-1-61091-483-3_5
Quevauviller P (2011) Adapting to climate change: reducing water-related risks in Europe – EU policy and research considerations. Environ Sci Pol 14(7):722–729. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2011.02.008, Elsevier B.V
Allouche J (2011) The sustainability and resilience of global water and food systems: political analysis of the interplay between security, resource scarcity, political systems and global trade. Food Policy 36(Suppl 1):S3–S8. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2010.11.013, Elsevier B.V
Ludwig R, Roson R, Zografos C, Kallis G (2011) Towards an inter-disciplinary research agenda on climate change, water and security in Southern Europe and neighboring countries. Environ Sci Pol 14(7):794–803. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2011.04.003, Elsevier B.V
Scheffran J, Battaglini A (2011) Climate and conflicts: the security risks of global warming. Reg Environ Chang 11(Suppl 1):S27–S39. doi:10.1007/s10113-010-0175-8, Springer-Verlag
WWAP (World Water Assessment Programme) (2012) The United Nations world water development report 4: managing water under uncertainty and risk. UNESCO, Paris
Scozzari A, El Mansouri B (eds) (2011) Water security in the Mediterranean region, NATO science for peace and security series C: environmental security. Springer, Dordrecht, pp v–viii. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-1623-0
European Commission (2015) Introduction to the new EU Water Framework Directive. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-framework/info/intro_en.htm. Accessed 11 June 2015
World Health Organization (2010) UN-Water global annual assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) 2010. World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
World Health Organization (2012) UN-Water global annual assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) 2012. World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
World Health Organization (2014) UN-Water global annual assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) 2014. World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland
Nature.com (2015) Nature water map – total renewable freshwater. http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/water/renewable_map.html. Accessed 11 June 2015
Nature.com (2015) Nature water map – access to safe drinking water. http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/water/map.html. Accessed 11 June 2015
Gamapserver.who.int (2015) http://gamapserver.who.int/mapLibrary/Files/Maps/Global_water_2012.png. Accessed 11 June 2015
UN-Water World Water Day 2013, thematic factsheet: “Water quality”. http://www.unwater.org/fileadmin/user_upload/watercooperation2013/doc/Factsheets/water_quality.pdf. Accessed 11 June 2015
Howard Perlman U (2015) Where is Earth’s water? USGS Water-Science School. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterdistribution.html. Accessed 11 June 2015
Shiklomanov IA (1998) World water resources: a new appraisal and assessment for the 21st century. UNESCO, Paris
Margat J, van der Gun J (2013) Groundwater around the world: a geographic synopsis. CRC/Balkema, Boca Raton, pp 376. ISBN 9781138000346
Fao.org (2015) AQUASTAT – FAO’s information system on water and agriculture. http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/main/index.stm. Accessed 11 June 2015
European Union Statistical Office (Eurostat) (2015) Water – eurostat. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/environment/water. Accessed 11 June 2015
Zektser IS, Everett LG (2004) Groundwater resources of the world and their use, vol 6, IHP-VI, series on groundwater. UNESCO, Paris
Quevavillier P (2005) Groundwater monitoring in the context of EU legislation: reality and integration needs. J Environ Monit 7:89–102, The Royal Society of Chemistry
Foster S, Loucks DP (eds) (2006) Non-renewable groundwater resources: a guidebook on socially-sustainable management for water-policy makers, vol 10, IHP-VI, series on groundwater. UNESCO, Paris
Hoekstra AY, Chapagain AK (2008) Globalization of water: sharing the planet’s freshwater resources. Wiley-Blackwell, Malden. ISBN 978-1-4051-6335-4
Doveri M, Menichini M, Scozzari A (2015) Protection of groundwater resources: worldwide regulations and scientific approaches. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2015_421
Thomas L, Schneider M, Winkler A (2015) Threats to the quality of water resources by geological CO2 storage: hydrogeochemical and other methods of investigation: a review. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_232
Biddau R, Cidu R (2015) Groundwater contamination: environmental issues and case studies in Sardinia (Italy). Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_242
Gamaletsos P, Godelitsas A, Dotsika E, Tzamos E, Göttlicher J, Filippidis A (2013) Geological sources of as in the environment of Greece: a review. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_230
Nisi B, Raco B, Dotsika E (2014) Environmental isotopes in groundwater studies: a review. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2014_281
Straface S, Rizzo E (2013) The importance of reduced-scale experiments for the characterization of porous media. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_231
Renard P, de Marsily G (1997) Calculating equivalent permeability: a review. Adv Water Resour 20(5–6):253–278
Sanchez-Vila X, Guadagnini A, Carrera J (2006) Representative hydraulic conductivities in saturated groundwater flow. Rev Geophys 44, RG3002. doi:10.1029/2005RG000169
El Mansouri B, Kili M, Chao J, Fekri A, Mridekh A (2013) Mathematical models as tools for prevention and risk estimates of groundwater pollution: contributions and challenges. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_240
Bavusi V, Lapenna V, Loperte A, Gueguen E, De Martino G, Adurno I, Catapano I, Soldovieri F (2013) Groundwater monitoring and control by using electromagnetic sensing techniques. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_243
Manstein Y, Scozzari A (2014) Pollution detection by electromagnetic induction and electrical resistivity methods: an introductory note with case studies. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2014_277
Bortnikova S, Yurkevich N, Bessonova E, Karin Y, Saeva O (2013) The combination of geoelectrical measurements and hydro-geochemical studies for the evaluation of groundwater pollution in mining tailings areas. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_234
Testa G, Persichetti G, Bernini R (2013) Microfluidic optical methods: a review. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_253
Di Natale C, Dini F, Scozzari A (2013) Non-conventional electrochemical and optical sensor systems. Hdb Env Chem. doi:10.1007/698_2013_254
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Scozzari, A., Dotsika, E. (2015). Introduction. In: Scozzari, A., Dotsika, E. (eds) Threats to the Quality of Groundwater Resources. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 40. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2015_416
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2015_416
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-48594-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-48596-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)