The Guarani Aquifer Project: Lessons learnt to an aquifer management system Luiz Amore GEF Third Biennial International Waters Conference. June, 21 st 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

Outcrops Fm. Serra Geral. Ac. Guaraní (Fm. Botucatu) GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM Outcrops Fm. Serra Geral

Project Rationale and Objective Rationale for intervention Growing use and increasing demand Signs of scarcity and pollution in transboundary and national Hot Spots Need to account for groundwater in water resource planning and management Prevention is less expensive 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

important use and investigations Hot Spot Ribeirão Preto GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Ref. Guido Blöcher

Concordia / Salto Hot Spot termal use GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Rivera / Santana do Livramento Hot Spot urbanized recharge area urbanized recharge area GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

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

Key Technical issues to be addressed by the project Identify flux and architecture of the aquifer Determines provincial, municipal & local governments role Identify areas of recharge and discharge Prepare strategic action plan to prevent resource pollution and over exploitation Quantify recharge and discharge and flow behavior Establish quantitative targets to prevent over exploitation and landscape management practices Evaluate geo-thermal potential Integrate groundwater into energy plan for the region Assess vulnerability and risk Introduce risk mitigation and vulnerability reduction measures Determine water balance at the Guarani Promote integrated water resource management GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

 Argentina  Decision making authority over water lies in provinces  Existence of provincial laws on water resources (thermalism under discussion)  Limited information: 9 deep wells, undefined Guarani western border  Brazil  Decision making authority over groundwater lies in states  Mineral, thermal and water bottling use governed by federal concession regime  National policy and state laws on water resources and groundwater (GW commitee and CNRH acts)  Considerable but dispersed information on groundwater (500 cities partially or entirely supplied by the Guarani)  Paraguay  Unitary State  Water resources law under discussion  Limited information available  more than 200 wells mainly for domestic supply  Uruguay  Unitary State  Existence of water law and decrees related to thermal uses  Considerable information available  135 wells for public water supply, irrigation and thermal tourism Guarani Aquifer System Region: Institutional Background

Technical Base to Groundwater Management  Characterization of geo hydrodynamic parameters, quality, level and flow of groundwater  Identification of the recharge and discharge areas and compartments of the aquifer system  Development of mathematical models of geo hydrodynamic behavior and risk analysis (vulnerability and potential pollutant on local and regional scale)  Structuring of a network and an information system integrating groundwater date base (quantity and quality parameters, constructive aspects of wells, use and protection) 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

The project will support policy makers on:  Formulating and harmonizing of riparian legal, technical and institutional arrangements  Mainstreaming best practices in groundwater management into each country’s development agenda  Establishing interactions between management of surface and groundwater under different aquifer conditions  The establishment of local management and planning, especially at transboundary (hot spot) areas GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Guarani Aquifer TDA basic framework GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Elements for the Development of the Institutional Base REGIONAL INTEGRATION Support the integration of development and protection policies for the aquifer in the countries STATE / NATIONAL REGULATION Development of the basics for the management of the groundwater and possible integration with surface waters LOCAL MANAGEMENT Integration of the hydric management policies and use of the urban / rural land 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)   Multi country project management system under operation   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 is being discussed in an Ad-Hoc Group of the Mercosur (since July 2004)   Strengthened commitment to jointly develop the Guarani (e.g. SC, NCs, GS-GAS, political support from national agencies…)   Improvement of knowledge and participation of users and policymakers alike   Engaged Universities and NGOs   Garnered international interest Achievements to date. GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

 Managing transboundary groundwater has unique complexities: difficult to visualize common issues, different legal/institutional frameworks, international sensitivities  Groundwater has to be focused to make possible the overall water resource management at each level: local, sub national, national and regional  Management of groundwater requires strong cross-sector collaboration and cooperation among national and sub-national governments and other different Organizations  Strategic communication is needed early in project preparation  Garner support at local level – i.e. local coordinators at Hot Spots  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 an integrated water resources management in the countries   Ensure the financial and technical sustainability of the monitoring and evaluation systems to be established by the project   Assist governments in harmonizing rules and 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 groundwater, including conflict resolution, at local level   Independently of institutional arrangements GW management will depends on the aquifer body approach (coordinated system) GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM

Thank you GUARANI AQUIFER SYSTEM