The Guarani Aquifer Project: contributions for the groundwater resources management Luiz Amore GEF Third Biennial International Waters Conference. June, 22 nd of 2005 GEF / WB / OAS GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Uses of Guarani System Usage: 2-4 km 3 /year (63 to 127 m 3 /s) Number of wells: ( 500 cities) GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Project Rationale and Objective Rationale for intervention Growing use and increasing demand Prevention is less expensive Signs of scarcity and pollution in transboundary and national Hot Spots Need to account for groundwater in water resource planning and management Objective Support Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay to jointly elaborate and implement a coordinated institutional framework for managing the transboundary Guarani Aquifer System for current and future generations. GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Project components and expected results Components I. I.Improve knowledge base on Guarani II. II.Guarani management framework III. III.Participation, education & communication IV. IV.Monitoring and dissemination of results V. V.Pilot projects in identified Hot Spots VI. VI.Assessment of geothermal energy, and VII. VII.Project coordination. Main Outcomes a) a)Multi-country agreement on institutional and technical framework b) b)Functioning information system and monitoring network c) c)Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis d) d)Strategic Action Program e) e)Joint legal framework proposal GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

water supply and urbanization in a partially confined area Hot Spot Ribeirão Preto GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Ref. Guido Blöcher

Concordia / Salto Hot Spot sustainable termal use in a confined area GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Rivera / Santana do Livramento Hot Spot contamination sources in a recharge area contamination sources in a recharge area GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Itapúa Hot Spot - Paraguay deforestation and agricultural use GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Guarani Aquifer TDA basic framework GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Groundwater Management Requirements  Implement and support monitoring network and an Information System with all data related to exploitation;  Users database and public access to them;  Increase the resource knowledge;  Define priorities for exploitation and increase efficiency in a planned development policies framework;  Define and to authorize maximum flow for exploitation and levels;  Define and authorize location and distance between wells;  Decide on new wells construction;  Protect the environment, decreasing the impact of well construction and improving a convenient waste water disposal;  Define protection perimeter and different exploitation areas;  Promote training, education and diffusion about hydrological topics at different levels. GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

  University Fund under execution (until Oct 2005)   Citizenship Fund under execution (until 2006)   Created forums for dialogue   Pilot local support committees and initial action plans under implementation   Main technical studies launched (transparency)   TDA/SAP process under preparation (transition to the management phase)   Qualification program launched to support GW involved institutions Achievements to date… GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

  Project of declaration of basics principles and action guidelines for the Guarani Aquifer System under discussion (July 2004)   Strengthened commitment to jointly develop the Guarani (e.g. SC, NCs, GS-GAS, political support from national agencies…)   Multi country project management system under operation   Improvement of knowledge and participation of users and policymakers alike   Engaged Universities and NGOs   Garnered international interest Achievements to date. GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

SÍNTESIS GRÁFICA DE AVANCE DEL PROYECTO

 Transboundary aquifer management depends on groundwater occurrence and subsystem special characteristics (knowledge importance)  Groundwater management must be focused on different aquifer funtions: heat, reservoir, water transportation, buffer, barriers, ecosystem maintenance... (concile protection, management and development)  Water uses must be integrated at each management level: LOCAL, sub national, national and regional  Project institutional framework involving water, environment and foreign affairs sectors has been adequate and must be strengthened with stakeholder participation in each national level  Effective of groundwater management requires strong cross-sector cooperation among national, sub-national and local governments and other different Organizations  Transparency, adequate financial resources and timing are critical elements in building participatory process..create constituency..keep momentum Lessons Learned GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Challenges – Looking ahead   Provide a catalytic input to the establishment of a framework for a sustainable transboundary aquifer management between the countries   Ensure the financial and technical sustainability of the monitoring and evaluation systems to be established by the project   Assist governments in defining and harmonizing regulations at country level that govern the sustainable management of the Guarani   Maintain the framework and best practices to be developed under the project in support of transboundary management of the aquifer, including prevention and conflict resolution. GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Thank you GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM