There is a transboundary groundwater reservoir on the Polish–Ukrainian borderlands, which is of key importance in shaping strategic groundwater resources. Due to the particular importance of this reservoir, the two neighbouring countries are obliged to undertake joint actions to protect it. One of the main difficulties in building a common platform for the management of TBAs in the Polish-Ukrainian border area is the differences in the approach to the identification of GWB, monitoring methodologies and assessment of the condition of GWB, and the inconsistent hydrogeological databases between the two countries. A transboundary numerical groundwater flow model was developed to support internationally integrated management. The model research helped diagnose potential problems by determining the scope of the area with cross-border flows and quantifying the flows between Poland and Ukraine. In addition, the numerical model was used to define the optimal cross-border management unit and the conditions needed to exploit the Lublin–Lviv Reservoir sustainably. Abstraction on a current level slightly increased the transboundary groundwater flow from Poland to Ukraine and minimally reduced the flow in the opposite direction but did not reverse the direction of water flow at the border. The simulated drawdowns do not have a transboundary range, but negative effects on surface water resources are noticeable. Joint management should focus on a broader legal consensus, improvement of institutional relations, and integration of monitoring and groundwater status assessment systems.
Presenter Name
T
Presenter Surname
Solovey
Area
Poland, Ukraine
Conference year
2023