GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT1

There are four groundwater resources to be managed: yield, storage capacity, water-in-storage, and transmissivity. Management concepts have changed over the years, with today's concept which covers comprehensive integrated use of the four groundwater resources with surface water resources to provide the most efficient water service for an area in terms of quantity, quality, and cost. Complete geologic and hydrologic understanding provides a base for formulation of plans which can utilize the techniques of artificial recharge, control of sea water intrusion, and variation of pumping patterns while protecting the resources through proper well construction and abandonment, placement of sanitary landfills, and liquid waste disposal. Plan formulation involves varying recharge and extraction amounts while maintaining the total of pumped groundwater and developed surface water equal to the projected and future demand. Physical limitations of the system must be recognized to assure reality of the plans. Legal constraints should not be placed on the plan formulation process. A present worth or other technique is used to provide an economic comparison among plans. Implementation will entail development of legal and organizational structure, with the most difficult problems relating to the management organization in terms of boundaries and powers.