The objective of this study is to broadly inform groundwater resources managers, engineers, policymakers and politicians world-wide on the subject of managing saline groundwater with the aim to enhance their general understanding, promote early diagnosis of possible changes and widen their inspiration for selecting effective measures for intervention (as far as required). This study has three focal areas: Geographic dimension: Description and characterization and geographical delineation of global occurrence of saline groundwater; Management dimension: Description of risks and opportunities regarding brackish and saline groundwater and observed human responses (management and development practices); and Global change dimension: Analysis to what extent the presence and/or relevance of brackish and saline groundwater may change in response to global change processes such as climate
change, ever-increasing groundwater abstraction and modified land use practices.