New UNESCO book on Managed Aquifer Recharge presents 28 real-life examples showcasing potential for resilience and sustainability

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) has been proven to produce a wealth of benefits from integrated management of a wide range of conventional and un-conventional water resources, paving the way for global adoption to achieve sustainable development goals for water, and adapt to the effects of climate change, according to a new UNESCO publication.

The new book presents 28 real-life examples of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) from around the world, where, at village to state level, people have collaborated to improve quantity and quality of water supplies and buffer them against drought and emergencies. These cases inspire an improved understanding of groundwater systems and showcase their capability to store additional water to meet critical human needs for water and food, and to purify water relying on passive treatment.

The cases show how MAR has helped communities overcome water challenges, prepare for the future, increase safety of water supplies and enhance ecosystems. They aim to inspire leaders and decision-makers presenting workable solutions to sustainably meet the needs of local population, considering also an average 50% reduction in costs compared with conventional alternatives. The enthusiasm for MAR schemes and their popularity and success are enhanced by significant auxiliary benefits such as in protecting against seawater intrusion, improving environmental flows, banking water for drought relief and purifying water through natural processes.

More than one hundred authors and contributors from top-level universities, research centers, water utilities, and other public and private institutions have contributed to this publication, which has been produced by UNESCO and the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), with support from the Groundwater Solutions Initiative for Policy and Practice (GRIPP), as a milestone contribution to the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme-VIII (IHP-VIII): Water Security: Responses to Local, Regional, and Global Challenges.