Around the world, the pressure on water resources and especially on groundwater resources is increasing, due mainly to growing demand and water quality degradation. Widespread access to safe drinking water, irrigation, urban expansion, industrial development and tourism are among factors that increase such pressure. . Exploration for and mobilization of additional water resources have become a hig
h priority in many countries. In general, groundwater resources are finite and are subject to temporal variability in the context of severe climate, to which climate changes add more uncertainties. This situation is further aggravated due to overexploitation of groundwater, the use of inefficient irrigation techniques and the proliferation of pollution sources (fertilizers and pesticides, untreated wastewater discharges, uncontrolled solid waste disposal, mining, urbanization, etc.) It is therefore of a paramount importance to rethink groundwater policies and management of groundwater in a more holistic and integrated vision, taking into account supply and demand, ground water vulnerability and protection, mobilization of non conventional water resources, ground water recharge. In this perspective, groundwater governance seems to be a central issue. Setting up frameworks for good governance will not only help access to groundwater in a more equitable and sustainable way, but set conditions for better cooperation (rather than conflict) at the local, national and even international levels. The IAH Congress will be organized for the first time in the MENA Region, one of the regions of the world that suffer severe water scarcity. This offers the opportunity to deal with topics such as extreme aridity and groundwater, non renewable groundwater resources and major trans-boundary aquifers. The Congress is aimed at scientists, researchers, students, engineers, water resources specialists, officials and government administrators, NGOs and those interested in groundwater and the environment. The congress would offer the opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge, experience, techniques and the knowhow in various aspects of groundwater.
