33-Contribution of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System to Groundwater Ownership Laws.

Abstract

For sustainable use of available groundwater resources the groundwater ownership laws are incessantly evolving over the last century. One of the five "rules", the Absolute Dominion rule, the Reasonable Use rule, the Correlative Rights doctrine, the Restatement of Torts rule, and the Prior Appropriation doctrine are currently prevalent. The U.S. Supreme Court has documented some form of the private property rights in water. Nevertheless, it has held that these rights are not absolute. Groundwater operating bodies frequently regulates drinking water quality and pollution; on the other hand it has not distinctively addressed the groundwater protection. History of groundwater Laws reveals that lack of knowledge and data required for decision making are generally not available. Progressively understanding of ground water is increasing. Experience has indicated that collection, storage, analysis and dissemination of data using conventional techniques are difficult and costly. Under these circumstances it is expected that use of remote sensing can be of great help in evolving appropriate law for groundwater ownership and usage.