Groundwater Management in Shanghai, China: History, Problems and Recommendations

Groundwater management is a new challenge for most developing countries. A case study of Shanghai groundwater management history is put forward to provide experiences for other countries. The paper classified Shanghai groundwater exploitation history (since 1961) into 5 phases, considering the over exploitation in different aquifers and consequently land subsidence in different times. Measures, carried out by Shanghai Water Authority, are analyzed, including exploitation reduction and recharge. Intergraded water management is suggested for the sustained development of groundwater management in Shanghai, especially discussing currently overlapping institution mechanism among different departments, few economic management methods, vacant of basin plan and management, etc.