In the heart of Central Java, Indonesia, Sragen Regency faces a silent crisis: its groundwater, a vital resource for agriculture and communities, is dwindling. A recent study led by Najm Al-Deen Moneer Hilal of Universitas Sebelas Maret has shed new light on this pressing issue, offering a roadmap for sustainable water management that could resonate far beyond this tropical region.
Hilal and his team turned to an unlikely ally in their quest to monitor groundwater storage changes: satellites. By harnessing data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission and the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), they tracked Total Water Storage (TWS) and other hydrological components from 2003 to 2024. The integration of these datasets within Google Earth Engine (GEE) revealed a stark reality: Sragen Regency has seen a net decline in groundwater storage of approximately 15-20% over the past two decades.
“The GRACE-GLDAS-GEE integration demonstrated high efficacy in detecting seasonal recharge cycles and dry-season depletion,” Hilal explained. This approach provided unprecedented spatial-temporal resolution, uncovering a seasonal pattern where groundwater levels rise during the monsoon months and fall during the dry season.
The study’s findings are not just academic; they have significant commercial implications, particularly for the energy sector. Groundwater depletion can lead to increased energy costs for agriculture and industry, as more energy is required to extract water from deeper aquifers. Moreover, sustainable water management is crucial for maintaining agricultural productivity, which in turn supports local economies and food security.
The research also highlights the importance of aligning water management strategies with global sustainability goals. By implementing precision aquifer management techniques, such as managed aquifer recharge and maximizing irrigation efficiencies, regions like Sragen Regency can work towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.4 (sustainable water withdrawals) and addressing the challenges posed by climate variability under SDG 13.
“This study provides a good example of using GRACE and GLDAS data adoption for regional groundwater monitoring,” Hilal noted. The approach offers a scalable model for other developing economies facing similar climate stresses, setting a solid basis for interventions aimed at alleviating water scarcity.
Published in the journal “Вісник Харківського національного університету імені В.Н. Каразіна. Серія Геологія. Географія. Екологія” (Bulletin of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series Geography, Geology, Ecology), the research serves as a call to action for policymakers, water managers, and stakeholders in the energy sector. As climate change continues to exacerbate water stress, innovative solutions like those presented in this study will be crucial for ensuring sustainable water management and energy efficiency.
The study’s findings also underscore the need for continued investment in satellite technology and data integration platforms like GEE. These tools provide invaluable insights into groundwater dynamics, enabling more informed decision-making and proactive water management strategies. As Hilal’s research demonstrates, the future of water management lies in the skies, where satellites orbit silently, gathering data that could help secure our most precious resource for generations to come.