Non-renewable groundwater resources: a ... - unesdoc - Unesco

NON-RENEWABLE GROUNDWATER RESOURCESAppendix 2: Tripoli StatementMore than 600 hundred participants from more than 20 countries and regional and internationalorganizations and associations attended the International Conference on‘Regional Aquifer Systems in Arid Zones –Managing Non-Renewable Resources’Tripoli, 20–24 of November 1999We the Participants of the Conference recognize that:1. In most arid countries the scarcity of renewable water supplies implies a seriousthreat to sustainable coupled and balanced socio-economic growth andenvironmental protection. This threat is clearly more pronounced in the lesswealthy countries.2. In many arid countries, however, the mining of non-renewable groundwaterresources could provide an opportunity and a challenge, and allow watersupply sustainability within foreseeable time-frames that can be progressivelymodified as water related technology advances.3. The Conference marks a milestone in the discussion of the emerging concept ofplanned groundwater mining.We the Participants consider that:1. Adoption of this concept at national level could have international repercussions;2. A national integrated water policy is essential with, where feasible, prioritygiven to renewable resources, and the use of treated water, including desalinatedwater.98