The impact of water legislation on groundwater sustainability in an arid region: Spatial statistical approach

Abstract

Sustainable use of groundwater resources and preservation of groundwater quality are critical issues for society as these resources directly impact the health of the environmental system and the population that rely on them for consumption. Despite this, and considering the importance of legal frameworks for establishing and enforcing sustainable practices, there is a lack of research looking at the effectiveness of environmental legislation on groundwater resources which ultimately inhibits opportunities for improvement. Considering this, this study aims to investigate the impact of water legislation on groundwater usage in Jordan, a small country located in a typically arid region, using hotspot analysis (HSA) and time series trend analysis (TA). In addition, the study assesses legislation's effectiveness on groundwater quality through data collected on static water level, water extractions, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride (Cl−), and nitrate (NO3−).The study results show that the groundwater levels declined (average of 1 m/yr) in most of the monitored wells in the observed time irrespective of the legislation implemented to monitor and reduce extraction. In fact, the HSA results showed a significant increase in the volume of water extracted after legislation was introduced. In addition, water quality also deteriorated particularly in areas of intensive agricultural activity where there are high levels of water usage and chemical run-off. In particular, TDS and Cl-levels increased during the assessed period by more than 40% over the Jordanian standards for drinking water.As such, the study concludes that existing legislation has been ineffective at preserving groundwater quantity and quality. It is therefore recommended that legislation be reformed to ensure that quality standards are upheld and extraction of groundwater resources is permitted at sustainable rates without exceeding the basin yield. This could be achieved by implementing an integrated institutional framework that better facilitates coordination between relevant ministries; introducing an advanced monitoring system; substituting existing crops for low-water use crops; introducing higher tariffs; and enforcing a stricter penalty system.