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.
Highlights
Since the publication of the Brundtland Report, where sustainable development is defined as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1], many institutions and organizations have dedicated much effort to the objective measurement of sustainability
Since aquifer sustainability index” (ASI) is formed by four indicators, each of them will be presented separately, and the overall sustainability index computed in the end
We have developed a compound index called the aquifer sustainability index, which considers hydrogeological aspects and social, economic and environmental aspects
Summary
Since the publication of the Brundtland Report, where sustainable development is defined as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1], many institutions and organizations have dedicated much effort to the objective measurement of sustainability. A clear example of this effort is the development of evaluation tools based on sustainability indices. These indices are fundamental to the sustainable management of the resource [2] and when applied to water resources, they identify all the factors that contribute to better water resource management. This information can be used to present the current state of water resources in one area to all its users and to help Sustainable Water Management and Decision-Making (SWMaDM) [3]. Some attempts to develop water resources sustainability indices have already been proposed, for example, Canadian Water Sustainability Index [5], Watershed Sustainability Index [6], West
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