Transboundary aquifers play a critical role in global water supply, yet their shared nature raises concerns about overuse and depletion. In this Science Talk, Dr. Marc F. Müller examines whether groundwater in internationally shared aquifers is depleted faster and more intensively used near borders, drawing on insights from game theory and common-pool resource dynamics. Using a global dataset of over 100,000 wells, the analysis finds significantly faster depletion in transboundary aquifers compared to domestic ones, with nearly half of groundwater use occurring within 100 km of international borders.
However, these patterns are largely explained by hydrogeographic factors—such as the co-location of rivers, alluvial plains, and irrigation infrastructure—rather than competitive overuse between neighboring countries. This Science Talk introduces a new typology of border-zone groundwater use to identify high-risk regions and guide more targeted, cooperative governance approaches, highlighting that effective management depends on both physical conditions and institutional collaboration.
Speaker
Dr. Marc F. Müller
Associate Research Professor, Water Security and Conflict
