GroundWater 2011: The 24th European Regional Conference of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID)

Groundwater is an essential source of freshwater for the planet. It provides more than 50% of drinking water, 40% of industrial water and 20% of irrigation water. The low costs of installing and operating tube wells along with the resulting agricultural boom have been the main reasons for the considerable worldwide expansion of groundwater use over the past 40 years.

 But, unlike surface water, groundwater is not easily measurable and manageable. In most cases it is used by a large number of independent users, including farmers, who have direct and individual access to water. The same goes for diffuse pollutions. The complexity of aquifers functioning on large time and space scales hampers collective action as well as the perception of the impacts on the environment. However formal or informal solutions emerge locally. Governance modes and regulations have been experimented in several environments worldwide. What are these solutions? In which conditions are they implemented? How effective are they? What are future opportunities for a sustainable management of groundwater resources? Concrete experiences will be presented and analysed through oral presentations and round table debates. For more than ten years, the Beauce region, which hosts the conference, has experimented a volumetric management system of groundwater. A return from experience by stakeholders and users of the Beauce groundwater will be presented and discussed. This conference is the 24^th European Regional Conference of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). The conference will accept contributions from worldwide since they deal with management of groundwater resources issues, that is to say a human action on the system (physical, economic, institutionnal, regulation). Transboundary groundwater issues will not be addressed by the conference.  Topics (click for details)

1. Hydro-geological studies: how do they contribute to explain links between resources and uses and design sustainable management rules? 

2. Conjunctive use of ground and surface water: which integrated solutions to combine agricultural dynamics and sustainability? 

3. Collective action and multi-actors processes: pathways to sustainability? 

4. The EU Water Framework Directive and Groundwater Daughter Directive: which experience feedback? Which issues for the new cycle?

5. Economic approaches: how effective are they in reducing groundwater use and pollution? 

6. Each groundwater use has its own quality requirements: what solutions and accompanying measures to reconcile groundwater quality and local development?

 Target audience:
 The Conference is open to a wide public of researchers, water basin or managers of irrigation schemes, SME, users’ representatives and stakeholders.

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• January 31^st 2011 Deadline for two-pages papers submission
• January 31^st 2011 Deadline for early-bird registration
• February 28^th 2011 Deadline for revised two-pages paper