(c) The population dependent on the aquifer or aquifer system in each aquifer State

Aquifer States shall protect and preserve ecosystems within a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system.

(d) The effects of the utilization of the aquifer or aquifer system in one aquifer State on other aquifer States concerned

(c) Transboundary aquifer or transboundary aquifer system means, respectively, an aquifer or aquifer system, parts of which are situated in different States

(a) With respect to a recharging transboundary aquifer or aquifer system, shall take into account the sustainability of such aquifer or aquifer system and shall not impair the utilization and functions of such aquifer or aquifer system

Aquifer States shall agree on harmonized standards and methodology for monitoring a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system.

(a) The natural condition of the aquifer or aquifer system

For the purpose of managing a particular transboundary aquifer or aquifer system, aquifer States in whose territories such an aquifer or aquifer system is located are encouraged to enter into a bilateral or regional arrangement among themselves.

Aquifer States shall, in undertaking other activities in their territories that have or are likely to have an impact on a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system, take all appropriate measures to prevent the causing of significant harm through that aquifer or aquifer system to other aquifer States.

Aquifer States shall, in utilizing a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system in their territories, take all appropriate measures to prevent the causing of significant harm to other aquifer States.

Aquifer States shall, in their respective territories, utilize a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system in a reasonable manner and, in particular

They are encouraged to establish a development plan for such aquifer or aquifer system, taking into account the agreed lifespan of such aquifer or aquifer system as well as future needs of and alternative water sources for the aquifer States.

(e) The existing and potential utilization of the aquifer or aquifer system

Aquifer States shall identify recharge zones of a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system and, within these zones, shall take special measures to minimize detrimental impacts on the recharge process and also take all measures to prevent pollutants from entering the aquifer or aquifer system.

Aquifer States shall, individually and, where appropriate, jointly, prevent, reduce and control the pollution of a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system that may cause significant harm to other aquifer States or to their environment.

Aquifer States shall, individually and, where appropriate, jointly, prevent, reduce and control the pollution of a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system that may cause significant harm to other aquifer States or to their environment.

It is conceivable that an aquifer State could pollute a transboundary aquifer but not cause significant harm to other aquifer States or their environment.

Aquifer States shall, in their respective territories, utilize a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system in a manner such that the benefits to be derived from such utilization shall accrue equitably to the aquifer States concerned.

(d) Aquifer State means a State Party to the present Convention in whose territory any part of a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system is situated

(e) Recharging aquifer means an aquifer that receives a non negligible amount of contemporary water recharge

(f) Non recharging aquifer means an aquifer that receives a negligible amount of contemporary water recharge.

Even if a domestic aquifer or aquifer system is linked to an international watercourse in the territory of a State where such an aquifer or aquifer system is located, it would fall outside the scope of the draft convention.

b. Developing aquifer vulnerability maps

Paragraph 1 calls upon aquifer States to cooperate among themselves to enter into bilateral or regional arrangements for the purpose of managing a particular transboundary aquifer or aquifer system.

Aquifer States shall identify discharge zones of a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system and, within these zones, shall take special measures to minimize detrimental impacts on the discharge process.

Pursuant to article 8, aquifer States shall, on a regular basis, exchange readily available data and information on the condition of the transboundary aquifer or aquifer system, in particular that of a geological, hydrogeological, hydrological, meteorological and ecological nature and related to the hydrochemistry of the aquifer or aquifer system, as well as related forecasts.

Such arrangement may be entered into with respect to an entire aquifer or aquifer system or any part thereof or a particular project, programme or use except insofar as the arrangement adversely affects, to a significant extent, the use by one or more other aquifer States of the water in that aquifer or aquifer system, without their express consent.

He proposed deleting the word harmonized from draft article 10, paragraph 1, since the establishment of universally applicable standards and methodologies for monitoring a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system might impose too great an obligation on aquifer States and, given the differences between aquifers and aquifer systems in the respective aquifer States, might not be practical.

Aquifer States shall undertake to establish plans and implement these plans for the proper management of a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system in accordance with the provisions of the present Convention.

Any State in whose territory such an aquifer or aquifer system is located is entitled to participate in the negotiation and to become a party to arrangements when such arrangements are likely to prejudice their positions vis à vis that aquifer or aquifer system.

Any State in whose territory such an aquifer or aquifer system is located is entitled to participate in the negotiation and to become a party to arrangements when such arrangements are likely to prejudice their positions vis à vis that aquifer or aquifer system.

Aquifer States shall cooperate on the basis of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, mutual benefit and good faith in order to attain reasonable utilization and adequate protection of a transboundary aquifer or aquifer system.

In the light of uncertainty about the nature and extent of some transboundary aquifer or aquifer systems, aquifer States shall employ their best efforts to collect and generate, in accordance with currently available practice and standards, individually or jointly and, where appropriate, together with or through international organizations, new data and information to identify the aquifer or aquifer systems more completely.

Previously, the legal fiction that an aquifer system also includes a single aquifer was employed for the sake of economy.

Accordingly, the Special Rapporteur feels that the definition of transboundary aquifer and transboundary aquifer system in subparagraph (c) would suffice.

(g) The availability of alternatives, of comparable value, to a particular existing and planned utilization of the aquifer or aquifer system.

These parameters shall include extent, geometry, flow path, hydrostatic pressure distribution, quantities of flow and hydrochemistry of the aquifer or aquifer system.

Similarly, draft article 7 should make it clear that an aquifer State which exercised its right to utilize the aquifer without taking any other measures that had adverse effects should not be regarded as causing significant harm to the other aquifer States, even if the other aquifer States were not exercising their rights.

(a) Utilization of transboundary aquifers and aquifer systems

Paragraph 2 (a) deals with a recharging aquifer.

The water in a recharging aquifer is a renewable resource and the water in a non recharging aquifer is a non renewable resource.

(f) The development, protection and conservation of the aquifer or aquifer system and the costs of measures to be taken to that effect

As far as possible, account must be taken of the specific features of the aquifer or aquifer system concerned and the particular relations between the aquifer States, the level of their socio economic development and related factors, priorities for the utilization of the aquifer for a specific period of time, and many other factors.

However, with regard to its paragraph 2 (b), since the unilateral use of a non recharging aquifer entailed the risk of diminishing the potential benefits for the other aquifer States, her delegation considered that the conclusion of an agreement between the aquifer States should be a prerequisite for any use of a non recharging aquifer.

Now the largest aquifer in North America is from Midland, Texas to the South Dakota border, across eight states big aquifer Ogallala, Triassic age.