Groundwater in the Field of Water Policies, in Spain

Abstract

Throughout our research we approach the study of the complex world of groundwater, from the idea that we must start from the reality of the hydrological cycle, its phases, and its unity, as an essential part of the Waters Regulations. When dealing with the matter concerning groundwater, we have to point out that these waters are formed as part of natural resources, of great importance not only strategically, but also for each and every one of the aquatic ecosystems that depend on them. These natural resources have been approached from two significant perspectives, which are the need to protect these resources, and the interest in using them for drinking water supplies. From these two perspectives, the purpose arises to achieve the objective that the masses of groundwater used to extract the aforementioned drinking water (or attacked for such purposes for future times), are fully protected, in order to prevent the deterioration of its quality, and of reducing the purification treatment rates required for such purposes. Their study and research brought us closer to the legislative treatment of the European Union and Spain, in the case of the different Directives, up to the National Hydrological Plan or the protection of groundwater from pollution and environmental deterioration.