Cross-border groundwater impacts and joint management interventions: An overview of case studies
Sterckx A. Maass-Morales C. Fraser C.M. Pietersen K. Podolny O. Samaniego L. Sanchez R.
1 March 2026Academic Press
Journal of Environmental Management
2026#401
Transboundary aquifers (TBAs) are shared by different political entities, and their management often requires multilateral efforts. However, despite their strategic importance in sustaining ecosystems and human communities, the level of cooperation over TBAs remains generally low. Lack of awareness and political willingness are often cited for this. This paper further demonstrates the need for and relevance of TBA cooperation through an overview of real cases of cross-border groundwater impacts and joint management interventions across the world. The product of an extensive review of academic and grey literature, this study provides key insights into the types of cross-border groundwater impacts and joint management interventions, as well as the TBA settings where cases have been identified. This allows for important lessons on the scope of TBA cooperation to be drawn. Notably, the evidence-base suggests that in large TBAs, joint management interventions could often be prioritized over the border area. It also shows the need for proactive cooperation mechanisms to develop joint management interventions, not only to mitigate or remediate cross-border groundwater impacts, but also to prevent them.
Cross-border impact , Cross-border issues , Groundwater depletion , Groundwater pollution , Transboundary aquifer (TBA) , Transboundary cooperation
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International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), Delft, Netherlands
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Water Resources and Ecosystems Department, Delft, Netherlands
Delft University of Technology, Department of Water Management, Delft, Netherlands
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, United Kingdom
Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI), Pretoria, South Africa
University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
Hydrogeoecological Research and Design Company “KazHYDEC” (Ltd.), Almaty, Kazakhstan
Regional Centre for Groundwater Management for Latin America and the Caribbean (CeReGAS), Montevideo, Uruguay
Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC)
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Delft University of Technology
Department for Environment
Southern African Development Community Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI)
University of the Western Cape
Hydrogeoecological Research and Design Company “KazHYDEC” (Ltd.)
Regional Centre for Groundwater Management for Latin America and the Caribbean (CeReGAS)
Texas Water Resources Institute
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