IGRAC and Groundwater Quality

In 2009 IGRAC first published an extensive report including a draft map on saline and brackish groundwater around the world. The study includes an overview of the occurrence and genesis of saline groundwater bodies. Further it discusses issues and concerns related to saline groundwater and how to manage them. In 2010 IGRAC will continue reviewing and improving the map, a.o. through a workshop.

Arsenic and Fluoride contaminations form a potential health risk for millions of people around the world. IGRAC first published two extensive reports on their occurrence and removal methods in 2007, and continues to update the maps and data as new information becomes available. For example, the Fluoride map was updated with the work of Amini et al. (2008) of EAWAG, and published in the book Sustainable Groundwater Resources in Africa (UNESCO & IHP, 2010)

Monitoring practices differ around the world, as a consequence of the many different guidelines and protocols that exist. IGRAC first published a World-wide inventory of Groundwater Monitoring in 2004, including groundwater quality monitoring and networks. Through IGRAC's web pages on Guidelines and Protocols, several databases and inventories give access to hundreds of publications and tools. Recently, IGRAC contributed to the WMO publication on water quality monitoring, which is presently under preparation. It will be published shortly in collaboration with UNEP GEMS/Water Programme.

For more information on IGRAC activities please visit the website http://www.igrac.net/ or subscribe to our RSS feed. You may also contact us by e-mail: info@igrac.net