Intensive groundwater extraction in the face of water scarcity

a review of the impacts on urban water supply

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47236/2594-7036.2026.v10.2180

Keywords:

Intensive extraction, Municipal management, Public water, Supply groundwater, Water security

Abstract

This systematic literature review examines the impacts of intensive groundwater extraction on urban public water supply systems, emphasizing the implications for municipal management. The Population, Interest, Context (PICo) framework guided the research question, with searches conducted in Scopus and Web of Science using terms such as "groundwater overexploitation" and "public water supply," resulting in 10 studies selected through PRISMA screening (from 132 initial records). The results highlight quantitative impacts (piezometric decline in 80% of cases), qualitative effects (contaminant mobilization and saline intrusion), and systemic challenges (operational vulnerability and governance gaps), prevalent in urban contexts in Asia, the USA, and Europe. It concludes that sustainability requires integrated monitoring, diversification of sources, and extraction limits, aligned with Brazil's National Water Resources Policy. The qualitative synthesis emphasizes the need for systemic approaches to mitigate risks in aquifer-dependent municipalities.

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Author Biographies

  • Daniel Santos Costa, Instituto Federal do Tocantins
    Master's student in the Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Palmas Campus of the Federal Institute of Tocantins. Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. Email: danielcostaengenheiro@gmail.com. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1943-8658. Lattes CV: http://lattes.cnpq.br/1965698469815058.
  • Giulliano Guimarães Silva, Instituto Federal do Tocantins
    Doctor of Environmental Technology from the University of Ribeirão Preto. Professor of Basic, Technical, and Technological Education in the area of Environmental Engineering and Sanitation at the Palmas Campus of the Federal Institute of Tocantins. Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. Email: giullianogsilva@gmail.com. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9606-3959. Lattes CV: http://lattes.cnpq.br/0470770672839769.
  • Elaine da Cunha Silva Paz, Instituto Federal do Tocantins
    Doctor of Environmental Technology from the University of Ribeirão Preto. Professor of Basic, Technical, and Technological Education, working in the Professional Master's Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Palmas Campus of the Federal Institute of Tocantins. Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. Email: elaine@ifto.edu.br. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9108-6249. Lattes CV: http://lattes.cnpq.br/8015425935065463.
  • Claudia da Silva Aguiar Rezende, Instituto Federal do Tocantins
    Doctor of Biodiversity and Biotechnology from the Federal University of Tocantins. Professor of Basic, Technical, and Technological Education, working in the Professional Master's Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Palmas Campus of the Federal Institute of Tocantins. Professor in the Professional Master's Program in Environmental Engineering at the Palmas Campus of the Federal University of Tocantins. Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. Email: claudia@ifto.edu.br. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5139-1601. Lattes CV: http://lattes.cnpq.br/5710697952269743.

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Published

2026-10-02

Issue

Section

Artigo Científico

How to Cite

COSTA, Daniel Santos et al. Intensive groundwater extraction in the face of water scarcity: a review of the impacts on urban water supply. Sítio Novo Magazine, Palmas, v. 10, p. e2180, 2026. DOI: 10.47236/2594-7036.2026.v10.2180. Disponível em: https://sitionovo.ifto.edu.br/index.php/sitionovo/article/view/2180. Acesso em: 2 oct. 2026.