The Journey from Safe Yield to Sustainability

Alley, William M.; Leake, Stanley A.

doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02446.x

Cited by 286 publications

(181 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Groundwater Management Sustainability was defined by Alley [4] as the development and use of the resource in a manner that can be maintained for an indefinite time without causing unacceptable environmental, economic, or social consequences. Therefore, to develop an index that ensures adequate measurement of sustainability in groundwater resource management, it is important to consider not only hydrogeological parameters, but also parameters related to Environment, Life and Policy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Groundwater Management Sustainability under Limited Data Availability in Semiarid Zones

Senent‐Aparicio

Pérez‐Sánchez

Aróstegui

et al. 2015

Water

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Abstract:In recent years, many researchers have devoted their efforts to finding an objective measurement of sustainability by developing evaluation tools based on sustainability indices. These indexes not only reveal the current state of water resources in a given area but also contribute to the development and implementation of effective sustainable water management and decision-making. The great disadvantage of these indices is that for proper application, a number of variables are necessary and they are usually not available in data-scarce aquifers. This study was designed to evaluate sustainability in groundwater resource management in an aquifer in a semiarid zone, using readily available parameters and under a pressure-state-response framework. This methodology has been applied to an aquifer in Southeast Spain with satisfactory results, since the indicators that were evaluated reflect the two main problems that hinder sustainable resource management: the contamination of groundwater by intensive local farming; and the need for external inputs from other basins to alleviate water stress. Therefore, the methodology used can be replicated in other areas with similar characteristics to those of the case study. OPEN ACCESSWater 2015, 7 4306

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Groundwater Management Sustainability under Limited Data Availability in Semiarid Zones

Senent‐Aparicio

Pérez‐Sánchez

Aróstegui

et al. 2015

Water

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“…Early definitions of safe yield preclude pumping that is "dangerous" [78] or produces an "undesirable result" [79], including rapid declines in groundwater levels. More recent studies have called into question both the value and the sustainability of safe yield [80][81][82]. Evaluations of groundwater development sustainability account for natural groundwater recharge rates, as well as capture which includes induced recharge and decreases in natural discharge [5,83,84].…”

Section: Evaluation Tools and Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Water Management in Urban, Agricultural, and Natural Systems

Russo

Alfredo

Fisher

2014

Water

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Sustainable water management (SWM) requires allocating between competing water sector demands, and balancing the financial and social resources required to support necessary water systems. The objective of this review is to assess SWM in three sectors: urban, agricultural, and natural systems. This review explores the following questions: (1) How is SWM defined and evaluated? (2) What are the challenges associated with sustainable development in each sector? (3) What are the areas of greatest potential improvement in urban and agricultural water management systems? And (4) What role does country development status have in SWM practices? The methods for evaluating water management practices range from relatively simple indicator methods to integration of multiple models, depending on the complexity of the problem and resources of the investigators. The two key findings and recommendations for meeting SWM objectives are:(1) all forms of water must be considered usable, and reusable, water resources; and (2) increasing agricultural crop water production represents the largest opportunity for reducing total water consumption, and will be required to meet global food security needs. The level of regional development should not dictate sustainability objectives, however local OPEN ACCESSWater 2014, 6 3935 infrastructure conditions and financial capabilities should inform the details of water system design and evaluation.

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“…Beyond preventing aquifer drawdown, the extraction of groundwater should now consider the maintenance of the river flows and riparian vegetation, as well as the economic and social effects of different extraction scenarios (Alley and Leake 2004). From a managerial perspective, sustainable yield should no longer be defined simply based on quantitative water modeling, but instead by a participatory process in which the various users enter into an agreement regarding the possible uses of water resources and their various environmental, social and economic impacts over different time horizons (Maimone 2004).…”

Section: Modeling and Managing Aquifers In Their Interaction With Riversmentioning

confidence: 99%

What maintains the waters flowing in our rivers?

Vasconcelos

2016

Appl Water Sci

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This article discusses how new contributions from hydrogeological science in the 20th and 21st centuries have allowed for a better understanding of the processes that affect the maintenance of river flows. Moreover, the way in which this knowledge has been conveyed beyond academia and has been gradually incorporated into public policy for natural resource management is also discussed. This article explains the development of several approaches used to understand the relationships among the management of aquifers, vegetation and river flows, including water balance, aquifer recharge, the piston effect, seasonal effects, and safe and sustainable yields. Additionally, the current challenges regarding the modeling of hydrological processes that integrate groundwater and surface waters are discussed. Examples of studies applied in Brazil that demonstrate these processes and stimulate thought regarding water management strategies are presented. In light of the case studies, it is possible to propose different strategies, each adapted for specific hydrogeological context to maximize aquifer recharge or base flow maintenance. Based on these strategies, the role of infiltration ponds and other artificial recharge techniques is re-evaluated in the context of the mitigation of environmental impacts on the maintenance of river flows. Proposals for the improvement of public policies regarding the payment of related environmental services to stimulate investment in aquifer recharge and the maintenance of base flow, for which the goal is to attain win-win-win situations for the environment, farmers and water users, while preventing land speculation, are discussed. Lastly, a conceptual model for the dissemination of hydrogeological knowledge in public policies is provided, and its challenges and possibilities are discussed.

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The Journey from Safe Yield to Sustainability

Cited by 286 publications

References 16 publications

Evaluating Groundwater Management Sustainability under Limited Data Availability in Semiarid Zones

Evaluating Groundwater Management Sustainability under Limited Data Availability in Semiarid Zones

Sustainable Water Management in Urban, Agricultural, and Natural Systems

What maintains the waters flowing in our rivers?

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