Groundwater, land management and environment in Spain, nowadays

Abstract

Throughout this research we have approached 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 water legislation. In fact, when dealing with matter related to groundwater we have to review that these waters are formed as part of natural resources, of great relevance not only strategic, but also for each and every one of the aquatic ecosystems dependent on them. Estos 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 of achieving the objective of the groundwater bodies used to extract the aforementioned drinking water arises (or undertaken for such purposes for future moments), be fully protected, in order to prevent deterioration of their quality, and to reduce the rates of purification treatment required for such purposes. Their study and research has brought us closer to the legislative treatment of the European Union and of Spain, in the case of the different Directives, up to the National Hydrological Plan or the protection of groundwater from pollution and environmental deterioration.