This publication provides guidance to water-sector decision makers and planners on how to deal with the quality dimension of groundwater resources management in the World Bank's client countries. There is growing evidence of increasing pollution threats to groundwater and some well-documented cases of irreversible damage to important aquifers. This guide has been produced in the belief that groundwater pollution hazard assessment must become an essential part of environmental best practice for water supply utilities. The guide is particularly relevant for the World Bank's Latin American and Caribbean Region, where many countries have initiated major changes to modernize their institutional and legal framework for water resources management, but may not yet have considered groundwater at the same level as surface water, because of lack of awareness and knowledge of groundwater issues and policy options.

Un inventario de puntos de agua subterránea (IPAS) corresponde a un listado de los puntos donde se encuentra el recurso hídrico subterráneo. Este es una fuente de información de alta importancia para el entendimiento del sistema hidrogeológico en un sector y por tanto tiene fuertes implicaciones en la adecuada gestión del recurso. En Colombia existen muchas captaciones de agua subterránea que aún no se han identificado, lo que demuestra que esta herramienta aún no se ha potencializado. En este artículo de análisis se presenta la importancia del inventario de puntos de agua subterránea desde tres perspectivas: técnica, normativa y social, que permiten ver cuál es el aporte de esta información en la caracterización de los acuíferos, cómo es que la normativa, aunque cumpliéndose sigue siendo insuficiente para promover suficientes programas de inventarios de puntos hidrogeológicos, que permitan aumentar en el conocimiento del recurso y a su vez en la promoción de políticas de manejo y finalmente cuál es el rol de la sociedad como los principales consumidores del recurso y cómo a través del IPAS pueden convertirse en promotores de la gestión del recurso hídrico subterráneo. | A groundwater points inventory (IPAS-Spanish acronym) corresponds to a list of the points where the groundwater resource is found. This is a highly important source of information for understanding the hydrogeological system in a sector, therefore, it has strong implications for the proper management of the resource. In Colombia, there are many groundwater catchments that have not yet been identified, which shows that this tool has not yet been potentiated. In this article the importance of the inventory of groundwater points is shown from three perspectives: technical, normative and social, each one, allow see the contribution of this information is the characterization of aquifers. Besides, how the regulations, although being complied, still being insufficient to promote sufficient groundwater points inventory programs to increase hydrogeological knowledge and the promotion of management policies. Finally, it was also shown the role of society as the main consumers of the resource and how they can become promoters of groundwater resource management through the IPAS. | Especialización

Sakthivadivel, R.; Parker, D.; Manor, S., 'Taller de la Region Sudasi tica sobre Sistemas de Riego con Aguas Subterr neas Administrados por los Agricultores y el Manejo Sustentable del Agua Subterr nea Dhaka, Bangladesh 18-21 de mayo de 1992', FMIS Newsletter, pp.9-15, 1992

[Departement_IRSTEA]Eaux [TR1_IRSTEA]GEUSI | International audience | This essay introduces a collection of articles that explore the future of groundwater-based agriculture in the Mediterranean from an interdisciplinary perspective, in a context of declining water tables due to intensive groundwater use. The imminent crisis that many groundwater economies face due to very rapid and intense global change may have severe irreversible social, economic and environmental consequences, but could also be the opportunity to make a clear break with current agricultural development models and move towards more sustainable agricultural practices. The Mediterranean region is, therefore, an interesting case for the future of intensive groundwater use, as innovative ideas and practices may emerge and inspire similar groundwater-based agricultural systems around the world.

[Departement_IRSTEA]Eaux [TR1_IRSTEA]GEUSI | International audience | This essay introduces a collection of articles that explore the future of groundwater-based agriculture in the Mediterranean from an interdisciplinary perspective, in a context of declining water tables due to intensive groundwater use. The imminent crisis that many groundwater economies face due to very rapid and intense global change may have severe irreversible social, economic and environmental consequences, but could also be the opportunity to make a clear break with current agricultural development models and move towards more sustainable agricultural practices. The Mediterranean region is, therefore, an interesting case for the future of intensive groundwater use, as innovative ideas and practices may emerge and inspire similar groundwater-based agricultural systems around the world.