Groundwater Depletion and Climate Change: Implications for Sustainable Water Management

Abstract

Ground water is an imperative freshwater source that supplies agricultural, industrial, and domestic demands on the planet. Nevertheless, overexploitation as well as the effects of climate change have contributed to the notable loss of aquifers and that has been a great threat to water security, the stability of the ecosystem, and socio-economic development. This paper will examine the correlation between the depletion of groundwater and climate variability with special focus on the implications of sustainable water management. A mixed-method approach was employed in which quantitative analysis of the history of groundwater levels, extraction rates, rain, and temperature was done and qualitative feedback was received through the contributions of stakeholders, such as farmers, water authorities, and policy experts. Descriptive statistics showed a decrease in groundwater levels, and major contributions to this were over-extraction whereas correlation and regression analyses showed a strong negative relationship between availability of groundwater, rising temperatures and volumes of extraction, and a positive relation with precipitation. The results point to the interplay of the anthropogenic pressure on the aquifer and the pressure of variability caused by climate changes. Practical implications imply that combined management measures have to be implemented such as water efficient irrigation methods, artificial recharge, climate-sensitive planning, and participatory governance. Such limitations are as follows: use of past information and geographic consideration which denotes that future researchers need to use real-time data, wider geographics, and socio-economic forces that affect the uses of groundwater. On the whole, the present study highlights the urgency of implementing holistic solutions to preserve groundwater in the future, reduce the effects of climate change, and provide water security on the long run. The research offers practical information that can be applied by policymakers, water managers and society to ensure they achieve resilient and sustainable groundwater management practices.