Groundwater is often assumed to be a solution to improve the climate-resilience of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Yet, it remains a poorly understood, minimally managed resource with significant evidence gaps concerning its use and management in Asia and the Pacific. Furthermore, the climate crisis is known to disproportionately affect women and vulnerable people, exacerbating inequalities in access to resources and services (including WASH).
Project summary
There is an urgent need to better understand the potential of groundwater and how it can be sustainably managed to help combat the climate crisis and ensure equitable access to safe water for all.
In response, UTS’s Institute of Sustainable Futures (ISF) and partners are leading a research project aiming to provide governments, water service providers, and development partners with new evidence to guide groundwater-based solutions to climate-resilient inclusive WASH services in the region – RECHARGE.
RECHARGE is a transdisciplinary research project examining key groundwater issues in three climate-vulnerable contexts common in Asia and the Pacific: cities (Indonesia), islands (Vanuatu and the Blue Pacific), and deltas (Vietnam’s Mekong Delta).
Research on groundwater issues in Asia and the Pacific has been largely focused on hydrogeology. This project takes a transdisciplinary perspective, bringing together academic expertise on environmental and social sciences, practical expertise on WASH implementation and governance, and local knowledge to provide actionable advice on reducing climate risks to urban and rural water services.
In Indonesia, the research focuses on reducing groundwater quality risks in densely populated urban areas, particularly linked to climate and sanitation.
In Vanuatu, the research examines how groundwater can underpin equitable, resilient water services in rural island communities, and support learning exchange with the wider Pacific region.
In Vietnam, the research takes a systems-wide perspective on groundwater-based water services in the Mekong Delta. Characterising complex system interactions enables the identification of connections, feedback loops and strategic points of intervention towards climate-resilient, inclusive, safely managed water services.
The research is building critical new knowledge to help policymakers, practitioners and communities maximise opportunities and overcome barriers to climate-resilient and inclusive groundwater development.
Read more here and at UTS-ISF here.
Project timeframe
2023-2024
SDG targets addressed by this project
Clean water and sanitisation:
6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
Gender equality:
5.4 - Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
Climate action:
13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
13.b Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities.
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Senior Research Consultant - Institute for Sustainable Futures -
Research Director - Institute for Sustainable Futures -
Key collaborators
Juliet Willetts, UTS-ISF
Naomi Carrard, UTS-ISF
Jeremy Kohlitz, UTS-ISF
Cindy Priadi, Universitas Indonesia (Indonesia)
Lisa Faerua, ACE Consulting (Vanuatu)
Krishna Kotra, The University of the South Pacific (Vanuatu)
Nguyen Anh Minh, Can Tho University (Vietnam)
Nguyen Dinh Giang Nam, Can Tho University (Vietnam)
