New UN report on Groundwater: making the invisible visible

The United Nations has released the 2022 edition of the UN World Water Development Report on “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible” during the opening session of the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal, held on 21 March 2022. Groundwater accounts for approximately 99 % of liquid freshwater on Earth. This valuable resource provides critical benefits for people and ecosystems, and must be protected from pollution and exploitation.

The report describes the challenges and opportunities associated with the development, management and governance of groundwater throughout the world.  It aims to establish a clear understanding of the role that groundwater plays in daily life, of its interactions with people, and of the opportunities for optimizing its use in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of this largely available yet fragile resource. Unlocking the full potential of groundwater will require strong and concerted efforts to manage and use it sustainably. And it all starts by making the invisible visible.

Download the report