Groundwater Guideline

Delineation of Groundwater Protection Zones

In order to protect and conserve a country's groundwater resources effectively, a National Policy on Groundwater Quality Conservation needs to be implemented. In a first step the sources for domestic water supply should be protected by establishing groundwater protection zones. The implementation of such protection zones can, however, only be successful, if a legally binding regulation or Guideline for the Delineation of Groundwater Protection Zones is adopted and accepted. This guideline may define zones in which certain activities and land uses are allowed or restricted.

Such guidelines are in place in most developed countries since several decades and have served to protect groundwater resources effectively from becoming polluted by point sources and diffuse pollution sources.

The aim of this report is to help the adoption of a National Guideline for Groundwater Protection Zones and to facilitate the discussion about the long-term strategies and the required measures to avoid the pollution of the groundwater resources.

For establishing this National Guideline for the Delineation of Groundwater Protection Zones the project has:

•reviewed the Guidelines in place in many countries throughout the world,

•analyzed the legal basis in these countries and the implementation process and

•prepared a proposal for a Guideline for the Delineation of Groundwater Protection Zones, adopted to the conditions in the Arab region.

> to Guideline Contents & Download