Managing subsurface resource competition is a major overarching theme in hydrogeology, with multiple societal upon both the subsurface and water resources. This includes issues like the availability of fresh water resources, exploitation of mineral resources, and multiple technologies involving subsurface energy extraction and storage (e.g., heat, compressed air, hydrogen, CO2 sequestration, nuclear waste storage).  

The future will increasingly require the ability to combine hydrogeological conceptual modelling approaches including qualitative understanding of the nature of the subsurface with quantitative computational assessments of complex coupled process hydrogeological problems.  

The appreciation of hydrogeology itself will become more prevalent as growing populations, shifting precipitation patterns due to climate change, flooding coastlines and saltwater ingression among others factors stress available water resources. Water scarcity affects over 40 percent of the world, with that number rising every year. A recent UN report warns that water shortages could affect 5 billion people by 2050. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) reflect this, through SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation with hydrogeology embedded within nearly every other goal. Critically, the United Nations General Assembly recognises access to safe water and sanitation as human rights.