Abstract:
The management of freshwater reserves is becoming increasingly imperative for the managers of natural resources around the globe. Freshwater stored in coastal aquifers is particularly susceptible to degradation due to its proximity to seawater, in combination with the intensive water demands that accompany higher population densities of coastal zones. Seawater ingress may occur due to prolonged changes (or in some cases severe episodic changes) in coastal groundwater levels due to pumping, land use change, climate variations or sea-level fluctuations. The primary detrimental effects of seawater ingress are reduction in the available freshwater storage volume and contamination of production wells, whereby less than 2 per cent of seawater renders freshwater unfit for drinking. The fragility of these aquifers and their sensitivity to human activities demand an in-depth understanding of the coastal groundwater dynamics and an informed, competent management to guarantee the sustainable development and management of the coastal areas using suitable aquifer management strategies.
