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.

This study examines how environmental issues have been addressed in the water sector in Brazil, within the context of activities of the Federal Government, generally, and those implemented under Bank sector operations, in particular. The core focus of the study lies in the management of water quality, as it affects both the users of raw water, and those who are primarily concerned with the disposal of wastewater. The report considers the following three sectoral areas concomitantly - water resources management, water supply and sanitation, and, the environment - thus limiting its review, and focus to those themes which are key to the over-arching issue of water quality. Water resources management in the country relied upon heavy investments in medium, and large scale projects that provided basic infrastructure for water uses. However, these have produced questionable impacts in terms of reducing poverty, and inequality. One of the reasons for this, has been the poor infrastructure management, which despite its importance, has been largely underestimated. While improvements in the utilization of existing infrastructure in the water sector remain critical, it needs to be complemented by incentives to both service providers, and water users. Moreover, low economic, environmental, and social returns from investments in the water sector, reflect the tendency to distract attention from the objectives in the design, and implementation of projects. Thus, an assessment of water quality goals is required, which should be based on systematic evaluations of the costs, and benefits of reaching alternative standards, and explicit social objectives.

D. Kaimowitz, 'Cuatro medio verdales: la relacion bosques y agua en Centroamericana', 2001 | This paper looks at four “half-truths” about the relations between forests and water in Central America. The first is that deforestation has reduced rainfall in certain regions of Central America. The second is that forest help to maintain dry season stream flow. The third is that deforestation has led to more intense flooding. The fourth is that the region’s hydroelectric reservoirs and the Panama Canal are rapidly becoming sedimented. As the name implies, the article argues that each of these has some elements of truth but other aspects that are myths. The author emphasizes that even though some of these claims are myths action still needs to be taken to avoid inappropriate deforestation and forest degradation

En periodos de lluvias223.8 ha en San Martín Netzahualcóyotl, Estado de México, presentan problemas de exceso de humedad y altas concentraciones de sales solubles en los estratos del suelo y aguas freáticas, que varían a lo largo del año con el movimiento descendente y ascendente del nivel freático que provoca bajos rendimientos de los cultivos. En éste trabajo se elaboraron planos de isobatas, para ubicar las áreas de exceso de humedad, isohypsas muestran las direcciones y movimiento de los flujos subterráneos e isosalinidad en los perfiles del suelo. Se determinó la oscilación del nivel freático mediante el análisis de 27 muestras de suelo y agua por año durante el periodo de 2006 a 2011. Se encontró que las lluvias de agosto (33 mm) y septiembre (100.5 mm) son las causantes del ascenso del nivel freático y excesos de agua en el suelo en 0.58 ha a 0.65 ha por milímetro de precipitación en 223.8 ha. A niveles freáticos mayores a 1.51 m de profundidad los suelos presentaron baja salinidad y sodicidad (72.36 ha). A niveles freáticos menores a 1.5 mm y aguas freáticas de mediana a alta en sales, se encontraron, suelos salinos y/o sódicos cubriendo 59 ha. (26%) de la superficie total. | In rainy periods 223.8 ha in San Martín Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico State, have problems with excess moisture and high concentrations of soluble salts in the soil layers and groundwater, which vary throughout the year with fluctuations of the water table res ulting in low crop yields. Isobaths planes were developed in this work, to locate areas of excessive moisture, 1 sohypsess how the di re cti o ns and move me nt o f groundwater flows and isos ali nity in s oil profiles. Water table oscillation was determined by analyzing 27 samples of soil and water per year over the period 2006-2011. It was found that rains in August (33 mm) and September (100.5 mm) cause the rise of the water table and excess water in the soil at 0.58 ha to 0.65 ha per mm of rainfall in 223.8 ha. In water tables over 1.51 m deep, soils had low salinity and sodicity (72.36 ha). In water tables less than 1.5 mm deep and groundwater medium to high in salts, saline soils and / or sodic soils were found, covering 59 ha (26 %) of the total area.

El municipio de Huimanguillo, en el estado de Tabasco, México, es afectado por el anegamiento de las aguas de escurrimiento sobre la superficie de terrenos agrícolas, perdiéndose total o parcialmente la producción de los cultivos. Con la finalidad de analizar este problema se plantearon los siguientes objetivos: calcular el escurrimiento superficial originado por lluvias máximas consecutivas a través de cinco métodos y estimar, con el mejor método identificado, los gastos hidráulicos por hectárea a remover por drenes colectores. El estudio se realizó en el año 2003. Se definieron las lluvias de diseño para los cultivos chile, frijol, sorgo y pasto, y se calculó el escurrimiento real en 24 h, así como la descarga de diseño para definir el sistema de drenaje en cada cultivo. Se encontró que los escurrimientos superficiales en 24 h y las descargas de diseño estimadas variaron entre métodos y cultivos. Se aceptó el método del Número de la Curva para estimar las lluvias de diseño y descargas a remover por considerar las variables edáficas, climáticas, hidrológicas y agronómicas sencillas de aplicar. Los valores de escurrimiento superficial y descarga de diseño obtenidos fueron: 42.00 mm y 0.55 m³ s-1 para el cultivo de chile; 148.88 mm y 2.12 m³ s-1 para frijol; 130.84 mm y 1.15 m³ s-1 para sorgo y 79.37 mm y 0.89 m³ s-1 para pasto. | The Huimanguillo county in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, is affected by flooding that results from heavy water surface runoff that is deposited on farmland, therefore crop production is frequently lost. In order to analyze this problem the following objectives were stated: determine surface runoff due to maximum consecutive rains throughout five methods and estimate, with the best method identified, the discharge of water per hectare to be removed by drain collectors. The study was conducted in 2003. Design rainfalls were defined for chili pepper, common bean, sorghum, and grass, the real runoff in 24 h and the design discharge were also calculated to define the drainage system suited for each crop. It was found that the surface runoff in 24 h and the estimated design discharges varied with the utilized method and crop. The Curve Number method was chosen because it takes into consideration information on simple and easy to use variables of soil, climate, and hydrological and agronomic factors. Run off and discharge values of 42.00 mm and 0.55 m³ s-1 were defined for chili pepper, 148.88 mm and 2.12 m³ s-1 for common bean, 130.84 mm and 1.15 m³ s-1 for sorghum, and 79.37 mm and 0.89 m³ s-1 for grass, respectively.

Uma das práticas desafiadoras de manejo é aumentar a produção de arroz utilizando menos água. O experimento foi realizado nas safras de 2010/11 e 2011/12 na área experimental da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. O objetivo foi avaliar o rendimento de grãos e a eficiência do uso de água na semeadura no início e final da época recomendada. Os tratamentos foram as épocas de semeadura (01/10/10 e 01/12/10) safra 2010/11, e (27/09/11 e 07/12/11) safra 2011/12, com cinco repetições, e a cultivar utilizada foi a 'IRGA 424'. Não houve diferença no volume de água aplicado entre as épocas de semeadura, com volume médio de 5757 e 8420m³ ha-1, respectivamente, para safra 2010/11 e 2011/12. A época de semeadura afetou o rendimento de grãos, com rendimento de 13 e 24% a mais nas semeaduras do início da época (01/10/10 e 27/09/11), comparado às semeaduras do final da época (01/12/10 e 07/12/11), respectivamente. A semeadura realizada no início da época recomendada (início de outubro) proporciona maior rendimento de grãos e maior eficiência no uso de água.<br>One of the challenging management practices is to increase rice production using less water. The study was conducted during the harvest of 2010/11 and 2011/12 in the experimental field of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the yield and water use efficiency at sowing at beginning and end of the recommended time. Treatments were at planting dates (10/01/10 and 12/01/10) 2010/11 harvest, and (9/27/11 and 12/07/11) 2011/12 harvest, with five replicates, the cultivar used was the 'IRGA 424'. There was no difference in the amount of applied water between sowing times, with an average of 5757 and 8420m³ ha-1, respectively for season 2010/11 and 2011/12. The sowing date affected grain yield, with yields of 13 and 24% more in the beginning of the sowing season (10/01/10 and 9/27/11) compared to the end of the sowing date (12/01/10 and 12/07/11), respectively. Sowing early in the recommended period (early October) provides greater yield and more water use efficiency.

Con el fin de determinar bajo condiciones de campo la cantidad de agua lluvia que se mueve verticalmente a varias profundidades en la Altillanura, se seleccionó un suelo Tipyc Haplustox isohipertérmico caolinítico del municipio de Puerto López (Meta), trabajado durante varios años (2,4 y 6 pases de rastra por año para un total acumulado al momento de las pruebas de 8, 16 y 32 pases) y diferentes condiciones de manejo (Sabana nativa; Arroz (con 8 y 16 pases de rastra) y Pasto (B. Dictyoneura con 16 y 32 pases de rastra)). Se evaluó in situ la cantidad de agua lluvia que pasa a través de diferentes profundidades del suelo utilizando microlisímetros de embudo instalados a las siguientes profundidades: 3 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm y 30 cm. A cada profundidad se midió el volumen de agua que pasaba por cada lámina de suelo y se determinaron los componentes solubles (NO3, Ca, K, P), pH y Conductividad eléctrica. Adicionalmente se determinó la cantidad de lluvia semanal caída en el área de trabajo, para establecer la relación existente entre la precipitación y la cantidad de agua que pasaba por cada profundidad.&#xA;Se encontró una alta variabilidad en la forma en&#xA;que el agua se mueve dentro del suelo, en lo cual se&#xA;destaca el flujo preferencial; también, que la cantidad&#xA;de componentes solubles que se mueve de una profun&#xA;didad a otra en función de Ja cantidad de agua que&#xA;pasa. Para los suelos de la Altillanura se encontró que&#xA;los pastos permiten una mejor distribución de agua y&#xA;nutrientes puesto que ellos crean y mantienen macro-&#xA;poros mejorando el estado físico del suelo. = With the purpose of determining under field conditions the quantity of rainfall that moves vertically to several depths in the Altillanura, a soil Tipyc Haplustox isohipertérmico caolinítico of the municipality of Port López (Meta) was selected, worked during several years (2, 4 and 6 trail passes per year for a total accumulated to the moment of the tests of 8, 16 and 32 passes) and different handling conditions (native Savanna; Rice (with 8 and 16 trail passes) and I Pasture (B. Dictyoneura with 16 and 32 trail passes)). It was evaluated in situ the quantity of rain that passes through different depths of the soil using funnel microlisímetros installed to the following depths: 3 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm. To each depth the volume of water was measured that it went by each soil sheet and the soluble components were determined (NO3, Ca, K, P), pH and electric Conductivity. Additionally the quantity of rain weekly fall was determined in the work area, to establish the existent relationship between the precipitation and the quantity of water that it went by each depth.&#xA;There was high variability in the form which water moves inside the soil, in which is affected by the preferential flow. The quantity of soluble components that move from a layer to another being function of the quantity of water that passes. For the soils of the Altillanura it was found that the grasses allow a better distribution of water and nutritious since they create and they maintain macroporos improving the physical state of the soil | IG Valenzuela, G Perea, Edgar Amézquita Collazos, 'Evaluación del agua gravitacional a través del perfil de un suelo de la altillanura', Suelos Ecuatoriales, 2014

Uma das práticas desafiadoras de manejo é aumentar a produção de arroz utilizando menos água. O experimento foi realizado nas safras de 2010/11 e 2011/12 na área experimental da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul. O objetivo foi avaliar o rendimento de grãos e a eficiência do uso de água na semeadura no início e final da época recomendada. Os tratamentos foram as épocas de semeadura (01/10/10 e 01/12/10) safra 2010/11, e (27/09/11 e 07/12/11) safra 2011/12, com cinco repetições, e a cultivar utilizada foi a 'IRGA 424'. Não houve diferença no volume de água aplicado entre as épocas de semeadura, com volume médio de 5757 e 8420m³ ha-1, respectivamente, para safra 2010/11 e 2011/12. A época de semeadura afetou o rendimento de grãos, com rendimento de 13 e 24% a mais nas semeaduras do início da época (01/10/10 e 27/09/11), comparado às semeaduras do final da época (01/12/10 e 07/12/11), respectivamente. A semeadura realizada no início da época recomendada (início de outubro) proporciona maior rendimento de grãos e maior eficiência no uso de água. | One of the challenging management practices is to increase rice production using less water. The study was conducted during the harvest of 2010/11 and 2011/12 in the experimental field of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The objective was to evaluate the yield and water use efficiency at sowing at beginning and end of the recommended time. Treatments were at planting dates (10/01/10 and 12/01/10) 2010/11 harvest, and (9/27/11 and 12/07/11) 2011/12 harvest, with five replicates, the cultivar used was the 'IRGA 424'. There was no difference in the amount of applied water between sowing times, with an average of 5757 and 8420m³ ha-1, respectively for season 2010/11 and 2011/12. The sowing date affected grain yield, with yields of 13 and 24% more in the beginning of the sowing season (10/01/10 and 9/27/11) compared to the end of the sowing date (12/01/10 and 12/07/11), respectively. Sowing early in the recommended period (early October) provides greater yield and more water use efficiency.

For a long time it has been accepted that tropical soils, specially oxisols, have excellent physical characteristics, that they are permeables, with high infiltration and drainage rates. However, we have to accept today that tropical soils are very susceptible to degradation by human intervention, especially by the use of intensive and tillage and by rainfall erosivity. Knowing by experience, that soils of the Eastern plains of Colombia are very susceptible to physical degradation, a study to identify the properties that are more vulnerable to use of machinery has been started to try to establish some indicators of degradation. One of the parameters that reflect the actual condition of soils and that is sensible to changes is infiltration, which is really low in the soils that have been studied even under native savanna. This means that they have a low rainfall acceptance capacity and that could behave as "dry soils" under wet clime. The values of infiltration rate found varied from 3 to 15 mm/h for different conditions of use and management systems when it was determined even at different depths | Edgar Amézquita Collazos, H Londoño, 'La infiltración del agua en algunos suelos de los Llanos Orientales y sus implicaciones en su uso y manejo', Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), 2016

Daily rainfall variability at a local scale (1,000 ha) was studied at Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, for the period of one year (1993-1994), in order to better understand the process of soil water recharge. Coefficients of variation of daily data for ten observation points varied from 2.2 to 169.3% and the variability was independent of rain type, i.e. whether convective, frontal or of other origin. Data were not related to separation distances between observation points and it is concluded that one observation point does not represent areas as far as 1,000 to 2,500 m apart, for daily, monthly or even quarterly averages. Yearly totals for the ten observation points presented a coefficient of variation as low as 3.06%, indicating that all points can replace each other in annual terms.<br>A variabilidade diária da chuva em uma escala local (1000 ha) foi estudada em Piracicaba, SP, Brasil, pelo período de um ano (1993-1994). Os coeficientes de variação de dados diários para dez pontos de observação variaram de 2,2 a 169,3 % e a variabilidade independeu do tipo de chuva, isto é, se convectiva, frontal ou de outra origem. Os dados não apresentaram correlação com a distância entre os pontos de observação e concluiu-se que uni ponto de observação não representa áreas distantes dele de 1000 a 2500 m, para médias diárias, mensais ou mesmo trimestrais. Os totais anuais dos dez pontos apresentaram um coeficiente de variação de apenas 3,06 %, indicando que cada ponto pode representar qualquer outro em termos anuais.