Content of the presentation l Introduction to IGRAC and ISARM l Introduction to transboundary aquifers (TBAs) l Assessment of transboundary aquifers l Delineation and description l Classification, diagnostic analysis and zoning l Data harmonisation and information management l Management of transboundary aquifers l Concluding notes

Rationale l What does a TBA assessment encompass? l Clear need for general guidelines (as a procedure based on facts and structured experience from elsewhere) in order to enhance and alleviate a TBA assessment l ISARM programme: hydrological, legal, socio-economical, institutional and ecological aspects/facets of TBAs and suggested guidelines l In practice, mostly a hydrogeological assessment (to incorporate info on other aspects as well)

TBA assessment steps l Delineation and description l Classification, diagnostic analysis and zoning l Data harmonisation and information management l Delineation and description l “inventory” or “characterisation” (stage and scale dependent) l chiefly about collecting, combining and interpreting the field information l Classification, diagnostic analysis and zoning l information necessary for decision-making (problems, opportunities, most responsive aquifers and aquifer zones) l Data harmonisation and information management l Extra dimension in an international context (more difficult, more elaborated and politically sensitive)

Delineation and Description l chiefly about collecting, combining and interpreting the field information l “inventory” or “characterisation” (stage and scale dependent)

Standardised TBA Delineation (TBA Activities Americas)

Standardised TBA Delineation Tested in the Atlas of transboundary aquifers of Americas

Delineation and Description l A TDA description should a.o. include info recharge/discharge mechanism and hydraulic properties of aquifer to l determine direction and velocity of groundwater flow and its interaction with other water bodies (rivers, lakes, seas). l to assess aquifer’s vulnerability to overexploitation and pollution. l ISARM and EU ECE TBA inventories vary substantially in their content l Superimposed on these hydrogeological characteristics are the anthropologic influences such as abstraction and pollution from various sources. UN ECE Facts & Figures: l Water uses l Pressure factors l Problems related to gw quality l Groundwater mngm. measures l Status l Future trends

◄ Physiography, Demography & Water Use ◄ Geological Setting of Aquifer ◄ Water Quantity & Quality ◄ Importance and need for TBA ◄ TBA cooperation ◄ References ◄ Authors Standardised TBA Description (TBA Activities Americas)

Classification, Diagnostics and Zoning

l Input for classification: l aquifer size and hydraulic properties, l vulnerability, l current functions, l observed or perceived stresses, l Possible groundwater interferences, etc. l Input for diagnostics: l inventory of major perceived issues and problems; l overview of possible actions l Priority and feasibility study, stakeholders and institutional analysis.

Classification, Diagnostics and Zoning l Activities at location 2 in country B will be much less risky for the aquifer in country A than activities at location 1 l Effects resulting from causes at larger distance will be smaller and come with more retardation l General flow direction does matter l Zoning: e.g. based on isochrones of propagation of the effects (may contribute to a realistic picture of the transboundary risks) km 1 2 Country A Country B

Classification, Diagnostics and Zoning 0250 km 1 2 Country A Country B II I II III l Activities at location 2 in country B will be much less risky for the aquifer in country A than activities at location 1 l Effects resulting from causes at larger distance will be smaller and come with more retardation l General flow direction does matter l Zoning: e.g. based on isochrones of propagation of the effects (may contribute to a realistic picture of the transboundary risks).

l Rationale l Assessment: availability and quality of data l Internationally – also data harmonisation & info management l Technical activity l Basically harmonisation of formats, classifications, terminologies, reference systems, levels, software and hardware specific, etc. l Heavily influenced by political, organisational, legal, cultural and economical situation and agenda l Objectives l Depend on scope and scale: visualisation, textual/spatial/temporal data, web-based, common processing, real-time Harmonisation & Info management

l Current situation l Mainly simple GIS- based databases (GEF projects) l Developed databases or systems are (according to the available information) neither web-based, nor real-time l Databases available via IGRAC and INWEB portals contain meta information on transboundary aquifers. l No cases have been reported of harmonisation going beyond items such as reference levels and measurement scales. l WISE accommodates delineated ‘groundwater bodies’, no observations are available yet Harmonisation & Info management l Ideally, on-line synchronised access to distributed information services (data and information remain at the source!

Meta Information Module link to info source attribute values Global overview document info

Meta Information Module Global overview people info organisation info

Global overview Multimedia facilityCollaborative environment Meta Information Module

Harmonisation & Info management

Content of the presentation l Introduction to IGRAC and ISARM l Introduction to transboundary aquifers (TBAs) l Assessment of transboundary aquifers l Delineation and description l Classification, diagnostic analysis and zoning l Data harmonisation and information management l Management of transboundary aquifers l Concluding notes

Aspects of TBA management l Assessment vs Management l Methods (used in both, e.g. modelling) l Monitoring (management measure) l Water stress & mitigation measures l Assessment of management practice l Establishment of cooperation l Major assessment, setting up of common monitoring network and institutional & operational structure l Improvement of cooperation l improvement of monitoring network & assessment update l But mainly water protection and water exploitation management measures l Hydrogeological vs other aspects of TBA management

Aspects of TBA management l Institutional/ organisational setup – precondition for a TBA management l Lessons to learn

Aspects of TBA management l Environmental aspect l When we address transboundary aquifer management we are talking about a boundary that passes above and through a certain aquifer. This boundary is not a natural boundary but one defined by people with the aim to demarcate and protect their culture, identity, property and resources from ‘others'. Thus transboundary aquifer management is a human conduct or rephrased: transboundary aquifer management is about people. l Legal aspect l Socio-economical aspect

An example: DIKTAS Project Dinaric Karst TBA

What is DIKTAS? l Initiative of GEF and UNESCO at the Petersberg Roundtable (Berlin 2005), an expert meeting (Belgrade 2006) and Ljubljana Roundtable (2007) l A GEF project proposal ‘Protection and Sustainable Use of the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System’ l Preparatory phase ( ) approved l Project partners: Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania (and Italy, Slovenia and Greece as non GEF recipient countries) l Project duration: four years ( ), 2008-preparation l Proposed budget: circa 5.8M$ (GEF 3M$)

DIKTAS Objectives l At the global level the project aims to increase attention of the international community on the huge but vulnerable water resources contained in karst aquifers, which are widespread globally, but poorly understood. l At the regional level the project’s objectives are to: l facilitate the equitable and sustainable utilization of the transboundary water resources of the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System, and l protect the unique groundwater dependent ecosystems that characterize the Dinaric Karst region of the Balkan peninsula.

DIKTAS Activities Objectives are expected to be achieved through a concerted international effort involving: l improvement in understanding of the resource and its environmental status l building of political consensus and facilitating harmonisation around key reforms and new policies, l enhanced and sustainable coordination among countries, donors, projects and agencies,

Concluding notes l The field of TBA is challenging but rewarding! l Thank you for your attention! United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Meteorological Organization Government of The Netherlands Deltares