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The sea level will globally rise 10 to 30 cm until the year 2030. Most metropolises and centers in the
ASEAN states (Association of South East Asia Nation) are located in coastal regions. 36 % of the world population exist in
the Asian-Pacific region. Due to the archipelago topography of the Philippines, 80 % of the whole population
lives at a distance less than 20 km from coastline. The population density achieved 186 inhabitants/km2, a
concentration that is outdone only by the state of Singapore within the ASEAN states. Moreover, the population growth of 3 %
per annum is extremely high. The coastal area of Cebu island is direct affected by the sea level rise. |
Cebu City is a very good example for the problems of freshwater supply in coastal areas. The intrusion of saltwater
into the aquifer system has led to a decrease in freshwater resources since several years. The condition of Cebu
water supply is very critical. The groundwater is pumped from aquifers which are in hydraulic contact to the ocean.
The available data of the Water Resources Center (WRC) at University of San Carlos (USC) confirms the advancing
oversalting of groundwater in Cebu City region. Within the last 20 years serious processes of urbanization and
industrialization have taken place in the eastern coastal region of Cebu. As a result, the groundwater requirement
enormously increased in the urban agglomeration Cebu's. The overpumping of groundwater leads to saltwater intrusions
into the aquifer. This means a considerable deterioration of groundwater quality. Consequently, the uncontrolled
discharge of groundwater resources represents a great problem. The hydraulic balance between groundwater renewal and
discharge in Cebu City region is strongly disturbed. Water supply and urban expansion are narrowly coupled systems,
which must develop adequately. |
Within this context, the research project is proposed to construct a numeric model to simulate the saltwater
intrusion phenomena to the coastal aquifer of metropolis Cebu under consideration of different scenarios of climatic
change. The consequences of different scenarios will be important for the hydrogeological environment of Cebu City.
The research in the coast metropolis Cebu City can be exemplary for the southeast Asiatic area.
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