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Groundwater is one of the main sources of water supplies that serve the needs of the people particularly in the areas with semi-arid and arid climatic conditions. Knowledge of where and how the groundwater is occurring and its nature of movement are the crucial issues to be addressed in the development and utilization of this precious natural resource. The objectives of the book are to provide clear explanation on how and where groundwater occurs, nature and properties of groundwater reservoirs, nature, type and properties of water- bearing formations, movement of groundwater, groundwater chemistry and its relation to the mineralogical and chemical nature of the soils and rocks. The book has been designed for a wide spectrum of professionals and other associated with water resources. This includes undergraduate and postgraduate students of hydrogeology, earth sciences, civil engineering, agricultural engineering, and those who are pursuing a degree or diploma in water resources development and hydrology. Teachers, researchers, planners, administrators and managers dealing with groundwater will find it a useful reading material.

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Nata Tadesse Tafesse (BSc, M.Sc., Dr.nat.techn.) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Science, Mekelle University, Ethiopia. He studied hydrogeology at BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, and has more than eight years teaching experience both in the postgraduate and undergraduate levels.

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