Groundwater exhibits numerous benefits for water-supply development by public utilities (Table 1). Its normally excellent natural quality, requiring only precautionary disinfection before supply into main distribution systems, has long made groundwater the preferred source. Urban centres underlain and/or surrounded by high-yielding aquifers usually have better water mains service levels and lower water prices because of the potential to expand water-supply production incrementally in response to rising demand at modest cost (Howard 2007; Taniguchi et al. 2009; Foster et al. 2010a).
Benefits of groundwater sources to water service utilities
| Groundwater assets . | Water-supply benefits . |
|---|---|
| • Widespread distribution, with direct access in many outlying districts | • Development usually involves low capital and recurrent costs (except in a few hydrogeological settings), which can be staged with rising demand |
| • Generally excellent natural quality, requiring minimal treatment (except where affected by anthropogenic pollution or by natural contamination) | |
| • Huge natural reservoirs that can be used for long-term water storage | • High level of water-supply security in drought and river pollution episodes |
| • Buffered against rainfall variability unlike surface-water sources |
| Groundwater assets . | Water-supply benefits . |
|---|---|
| • Widespread distribution, with direct access in many outlying districts | • Development usually involves low capital and recurrent costs (except in a few hydrogeological settings), which can be staged with rising demand |
| • Generally excellent natural quality, requiring minimal treatment (except where affected by anthropogenic pollution or by natural contamination) | |
| • Huge natural reservoirs that can be used for long-term water storage | • High level of water-supply security in drought and river pollution episodes |
| • Buffered against rainfall variability unlike surface-water sources |