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to find means of controlling this trend because once the groundwater is contaminated, so the slow movement of this groundwater will ensure porous rocks (aquifers), plants, wetlands and river systems are contaminated. The results could be catastrophic and deadly.

A large number of websites from many countries are devoted to groundwater reports and attempt to advise on surface activities. So many websites world-wide suggest that public controls must be established to protect groundwater supplies.

In my country of Australia, there is a National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training which initiated a project in January 2008 to collect data on groundwater and to detail management strategies in Australia. The project is not due for completion till 2013. Clearly, it is a mammoth, important task. (N.B. In comparison with the Canadian figures, groundwater represents 30% of Australia's water supply.)

Groundwater represents 70% of the world's freshwater. In Europe already, 50% of the wetlands are critical because associated groundwater has been over-exploited. Europe acts as a warning to other countries that it is vital for our future to value, manage and regulate groundwater very, very carefully.

Why is groundwater important? As we need more uncontaminated, reliable water just to survive, we may realise that groundwater could well be the only answer. If only we understood a long time ago.

Bibliography
The Groundwater Foundation - http://www.groundwater.org/gi/ whatisgw.html

"NOVA Science in the News" published by Australian Academy of Science http://www.science.org.au/nova /100/100key.htm

Groundwater Basics - http://www.groundwateruk.org/h tml/basics/basics2.htm

Canada and British Columbia references -http://www.tol.bc.ca/index.ph p?option=com_content&task= view&id=1063&Itemid=90 0

http://www.swenvo.org.uk/envir onment/groundwater.asp
http://science-ed.pnl.gov/pals /resource/cards/groundwater.st m )
http://www.nwc.gov.au/www/html /554-national-centre-for-groun dwater-research-training.asp
http://www.wagrico.org.uk/site /WAgriCo/content-folder/backgr ound/groundwater

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