Abstract
Groundwater protection is an important issue in water resources management that can be achieved using a more efficient and economic methodology, allowing water use and economic development to coexist. Current protection strategies commonly lead to inefficient use of water resources and protracted disputes. This article proposes adopting a groundwater protection strategy based on spatial and temporal zoning of aquifers and aquifer systems, similar to the strategy for land use management. In some groundwater basins a common-sense spatial scheme can be developed with buffers separating potentially conflicting water and land uses. More intense uses would be located down-gradient or cross-gradient from sensitive uses (e.g., potable supply wells). Where groundwater data are abundant, modeling would be used to establish buffer dimensions, allowing more intense uses to be located in closer proximity. Monitoring wells would be located in the buffers to ensure compliance with water quality standards and criteria.