Island communities largely rely on fresh groundwater for their water supply. As demand for water grows due to the increase in island population and rapid land development, concerns are also growing on the sustainability of this critical resource. Fresh groundwater in small islands resides in a convex-shaped underground beneath the island called the freshwater lens overlying saltwater. A conceptual model of a freshwater lens is shown in Figure 1. Over-abstraction of groundwater and fewer opportunities for recharge due to unbridled land development lead to saltwater intrusion shrinking its size. This problem is exacerbated by climate change [1] manifested by change in precipitation pattern, increasing intensity and frequency of storms [2], and sea-level rise. As a first step in addressing the sustainability of freshwater supply in island communities, continuous monitoring of freshwater lens is essential.
The proposed research/project site is in Bantayan Island, Cebu, where close to 150,000 people are impacted by decreasing water supplies due to saltwater intrusion. The goal of this project is to develop a remote groundwater monitoring network that can be used to provide real-time continuous information about regional groundwater resources. In addition, this proposal seeks to employ participatory methods wherein local water operators can leverage real-time information on freshwater lens morphology for the sustainable management of the water resource.
Finally, this proposal seeks to create a program where undergraduate and graduate students from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP NIGS), the University of San Carlos Center for Geoinformatics and Environmental Solutions (USC CenGES), and Cebu Technological University (CTU) can participate on the research and development of low-cost technologies for monitoring groundwater resources so that best practices can be scaled nationwide. The implementation of this proposal will include partnerships with various stakeholders including: the UP-NIGS, USC CenGES, local and provincial government units, and national government agencies.
This research addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).
