41st IAH Congress "Groundwater : Challenges and Strategies"

The Moroccan Committee of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH-CM) is organizing the 41st International Congress of IAH in Marrakech (Morocco) in 2014, under the theme "Groundwater: Challenges and Strategies." Around the world, the pressure on water resources and especially on groundwater resources is increasing, due mainly to growing demand and water quality degradation. Widespread access to safe drinking water, irrigation, urban expansion, industrial development and tourism are among factors that increase these pressures. Exploration and mobilization of additional water resources have become high priorities in many countries. In general, groundwater resources are finite and are subject to temporal variability in the context of severe climate, to which climate changes add more uncertainties. This situation is further aggravated due to overexploitation of groundwater, the use of inefficient irrigation techniques and the proliferation of pollution sources (fertilizers and pesticides, untreated wastewater discharges, uncontrolled solid waste disposal, mining, urbanization, etc.) and other pressures. These pressures affect groundwater availability and sustainability. It is therefore of a paramount importance to rethink groundwater policies and management in a more holistic and integrated vision, taking into account supply and demand, groundwater vulnerability and protection, mobilization of non conventional water resources and ground water recharge. From this perspective, groundwater governance is a central issue. Setting up frameworks for good governance will not only help access groundwater in a more equitable and sustainable way, but set conditions for better cooperation (rather than conflict) at the local, national and even International levels. The IAH Congress will be organized for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region, one of the regions of the world that suffers severe water scarcity. This offers the opportunity to deal with topics such as extreme aridity and groundwater, non renewable groundwater resources and major trans-boundary aquifers. The Congress is aimed at scientists, researchers, students, engineers, water resources specialists, officials and government administrators, NGOs and all those interested in groundwater and environment. The Congress will offer the opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge, experience, techniques and knowhow in various aspects of groundwater.