Investigation of groudwater bodies on the basis of interacting systems approach for sustainable geroundwater management: A case study

Ensuring and maintaining "good water status" and "good ecological status" as defined in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) require thorough understanding of groundwater system's response against pressures and its interaction with the adjacent systems. Based upon the fact that repsonse of the groundwater system to stresses may extend beyond, as well as within, the basin boundaries in time, the dynamics of the system should be considered in a context of spatio-temporal continuum. However, the Water Framework Directive, proposes the use of the" water body" concept as a "management unit " to achieve the good water/ecological status. For groundwater systems, the concept requires division systems into its sub-systems instead of "interacting systems" in continuum approach. This approach assumes that water bodies have integrity in terms of quality and quantity. But, it does not take into account the interaction of groundwater bodies with subsystems in terms of spatio-temporal continua. Besides WFD also states management techniques in such a way that ensuring good status of water resources. It is possible to achieve this goal by managing water resources in "continuum" and "interacting systems approach". Therefore, "body" approach that ignores the impact against pressure in the context of spatio-temporal continua must be questioned. On the scope of thesis, the reasons of "groundwater body" approach were examined in historical process; the reasons of hydrogeological disharmony and uncertainties and problems in the frame of applications of various countries have been discussed and questioned with benefit of achieving the goals of WFD. This examination and discussion are conducted throughout the water resources management and hypothetical basin case study. As a result of the research depending on hydrogeological principles, groundwater body approach not forming spatio-temporal continua cannot provide sustainable groundwater resources management. Therefore, WFD aims cannot be achieved with this approach. It has been proved that sustainable water resources management can be achieved through "interacting systems" approach considering the spatio-temporal continua on continuum. By this, good water status and good ecological condition are achieved. It has been concluded that application of "interacting systems" approach, considering WFD objectives, rather than body approach in terms of sustainable water resource management in Turkey would be more accurate.