ABSTRACT
Water is one of our basic resources, but it is often in short supply. Surface water and groundwater are both important sources not only for human use but also for ecological systems. While in some countries groundwater resources are abundant (still) and readily available for development, in others depletion due to over-use, water logging, salinity and pollution cause severe problems. In addition, the uneven distribution of water (and population) among regions has made the issue of adequate supply critical for a growing number of countries. Rapid population growth and an increasing consumption of water per capita have aggravated the problem. This tendency is likely to continue as water consumption for most uses is projected to increase by at least 50 per cent by 2025 compared to the 1995 level (Rosegrant et al. 2002). One additional reason for concern is (anthropogenic) climate change, which may lead to increased droughts in many places (IPCC 2001).
