PUB00012

• Year: 1999
• Title: Sustainability of Ground-Water Resources: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1186
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Author: William M. Alley, Thomas E. Reilly, O. Lehn Franke
• Description: Illustration of the hydrologic, geologic, and ecological concepts to assure wise and sustainable use of ground-water resources
• Publications - Doc Type: Historical

NO
51 MN
"co ~! BO
SO
70
NE IA
87 7B
KS
51
OK
34
rx
4S

~

'"
~
HI "'"
94 <>

The construction of surface reservoirs has
slowed considerably in recent years (Figure 2). As
surface-water resources become fully developed
and appropriated, ground water commonly offers
the only available source for new development.
In many areas of the United States, however,
pumping of ground water has resulted in signifi-
cant depletion of ground-water storage. Further-
more, ground water and surface water are closely
related and in many areas comprise a single

soo
~
w
lt450
"'
5400
<{
5350
"
=300
"
~250
6-200
;<
<t15Q
u
w
f.:Il0a
<{
~
oso
~
w

o
18ao

1900

1920

1940
YEAR

19BO

19BO

Figure 2. Total surface-water reservoir capacity in
the conterminous United States from 1880 to 1990.
(Modified from Solley, 1995.)

D

DE
66

Figure 1, Ground water
is an important source of
drinking water for every
State. (u.s. Geological
Survey, 1998.)

EXPL.ANATION

Estimated percentage of
population In a State
using ground water as
drinking waler In 1995

2000

resource (Winter and others, 1998). Ground-water
pumping can result in reduced river flows, lower
lake levels, and reduced discharges to wetlands
and springs, causing concerns about drinking-
water supplies, riparian areas, and critical aquatic
habitats. 1ncreasingly, attention is being placed
on how to manage ground water (and surface
water) in a sustainable manner (Downing, 1998;
Sophocleous, 1998; Gelt and others, 1999).
Resource sustainability has proved to be an
elusive concept to define in a precise manner and
with universal applicability. In this report, we
define ground-water sustainability as develop-
ment and use of ground water in a manner
that can be maintained for an indefinite time
without causing unacceptable environmental,
economic, or social consequences. The definition
of "unacceptable consequences" is largely subjec-
tive and may involve a large number of criteria.
Furthermore, ground-water sustainability must
be defined within the context of the complete
hydrologic system of which ground water is a
part. For example, what may be established as
an acceptable rate of ground-water withdrawal
with respect to changes in ground-water levels
may reduce the availability of surface water
to an unacceptable level. Some key goals related
to ground-water sustainability in the United
Kingdom are listed in Figure 3. These goals
apply equally well in the United States.

2