ABSTRACT
A groundwater monitoring system is essential to monitor, preserve and protect the groundwater resources of an arid country such as Kuwait. The system acts as an effective surveillance tool that hinges on sound scientific postulates, and can observe periodic and long-term changes in the groundwater regime. Proper management of groundwater quality requires an efficient monitoring network that makes it possible to detect the spatial and temporal extent of subsurface contamination. Optimal design of monitoring networks is necessary due to uncertainties in predicting the movement of pollutants in the groundwater system and budgetary limitations. The processes, phenomena and activities that need to be monitored for the maintenance of the integrity of Kuwait's groundwater system include lateral cross-boundary recharge, regional groundwater quality change trends, mixing between groundwater from different aquifers, lateral and vertical flow due to Potentiometric head drop in the production well fields, potential hazardous activities, submarine groundwater discharge and gaps in country-wide spatial coverage.
