Proposed Solutions for the Sustainable Management and Effective Protection of Shared Boundary Aquifers

Groundwater is a vital resource that supplies water needs for various purposes. In recent years, with the increase in population growth, the demand for water along with climate change have led to excessive extraction of underground water and the quantitative and qualitative reduction of this valuable resource at the global level. With the increasing understanding of the interdependence of water and development, paying attention to the sustainable management of underground water in shared boundary aquifers to deal with threats such as lack of water, food, energy, loss of ecosystems and biodiversity and most importantly a decrease in human security, is a must-do act. Therefore, in order to achieve an increase in the level of cooperation for the fair and sustainable use of the country's shared boundary aquifers and also to prevent any disputes and conflicts in the future, the successful experiences of international cooperation between shared boundary aquifers such as the Geneva Aquifer Agreement (between France and Switzerland) has been used and suggestions have been made in this regard. The proposed solution includes an initial agreement contract for more cooperation in the field of identifying technical, socio-cultural, political, economic and legal parameters with the participation and activity of all governmental and non-governmental organizations, technical and specialist experts, academic and civil communities as a common set, provision of financial resources to achieve a comprehensive study of the common aquifer status, sharing reliable information in a common base, stablishing an organization agreed by the beneficiary countries and defining the necessary laws and obligations, forming an advisory committee in order to reduce disputes and to monitor the implementation of commitments, and finally, presenting a comprehensive framework in the form of a shared agreement between the beneficiary countries with a common aquifer.