Applications of Hydrogeology - Hydrogeology: Objectives, Methods, Applications - page 13

Groundwater extraction is increasing rapidly in Europe and in the
United States, where it often leads to waste. Its distribution is, however,
very unequal, and zones of intensive use are not always ones which nature
has provided well for. Furthermore, this resource is relatively scarce in
certain countries of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, which are faced with
increasing instability.
2 WATER—SOURCE OF TROUBLE
Groundwater has a very important infl uence on most construction and civil
engineering problems, on development projects, and on the protection of
people and property.
Its role has often only belatedly been recognized, in the aftermath of
veritable catastrophes or after smaller accidents resulting in construction
delays, unforeseen environmental effects, the destruction of projects, or
even the loss of human life.
The intervention of a hydrogeologist has become the norm, and can
be categorized within the scope of large projects and various development
project studies:
• excavation projects and surveying studies (roads, highways, and rail
lines);
• deep excavation projects reaching the water table or cutting across
water-bearing formations;
• large-scale construction sites requiring a prolonged lowering of the
water table;
• tunnels and underground construction;
• dams;
• the study and prevention of landslides and fl ooding.
3 PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES
Drinking water, water used in cooking, and water used in food production
must be up to increasingly strict sanitary standards. Other uses are distinctly
less regulated, but often have their own quality criteria, in order to guarantee
the protection of the material being used or of the product being treated
or manufactured.
The protection of the physical and chemical properties of water, based
on its different uses, is receiving more and more attention, particularly
with respect to human consumption. This has resulted in impact studies