SUSTAINABLE GROUND WATER RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT

IRRIGATION DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF KHYBER

PAKHTUNKHWA.

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 Introduction
Water has a special significance for Pakistans agriculture-
based economy.
Pakistans population has grown from a mere 30 million in
1947 to about 200 million in 2016.
As a result, water availability has decreased from 5000
cubic metres per capita in 1951 to less than 1000 m per
capita (1700 m3/person threshold) now, making us a water-
scarce country.
It is an important renewable source.
Groundwater represents about 0.62 % of the worlds total
water. Since much of the g/w below a depth of 0.8 km is
saline or costs too much to develop with present
technologies and economic conditions.
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 Introduction (contd)
As groundwater supplies are limited, they must be properly
managed and protected against undue exploitation and
contamination by pollutants.
Pakistan Receives 104 MAF of fresh water from Indus basin
and its tributaries through canal irrigation and 50 MAF of
water used for irrigation and domestic water supply is drawn
from groundwater sources.
In fact, many cities depend entirely on groundwater for all of
their water needs.

Unfortunately, many cities have to rely mainly on

groundwater because they have polluted their surface waters
too badly to be used.

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Global Water Supply
Distribution

3% of earths water is
fresh - 97% oceans
1% of fresh water in
lakes, streams, rivers
29% of the worlds
fresh water exists in
aquifers and 70% in
glaciers 4
 Issues

Dwindling water availability.

Inadequate storage capacity.
Outdated and wasteful irrigation practices.
Traditional high water consuming agricultural practices.
Unregulated groundwater pumping.
Climate change impacts.
Absence of regional cooperation in water resources
management.

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 Groundwater Management
Building new storages.(Multi purpose dams etc).

Constructing water conservation schemes. (Small

ponds etc).

Manufacturing and installing high efficiency

irrigation equipment.

Investment opportunities in renewable energy

projects, necessary for climate change mitigation
and adaptation.

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 Groundwater -- Recharge and Discharge
Water is continually recycled through aquifer systems.
Groundwater recharge is any water added to the aquifer zone. Processes
that contribute to groundwater recharge include precipitation, streamflow,
leakage (reservoirs, lakes, aqueducts), and artificial means (injection wells).
In many locations groundwater withdrawal exceeds natural recharge
rates. This is known as overdraft. In such areas, the water table is drawn
down "permanently"; therefore, groundwater is considered a nonrenewable
resource.
Groundwater supplies 30% of the water present in our streams. Effluent
streams act as discharge zones for groundwater during dry seasons. This
phenomenon is known as base flow. Groundwater overdraft reduces the
base flow, which results in the reduction of water supplied to our streams.

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Aquifer Systems

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Thanks

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