Institute of Geology and Geophysics, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan:

Yu. G. Israfilov, Head of department, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, yusifisrafil@gmail.com

Groundwater is one of the strategic mineral resources efficient use of which can be beneficial for the economic development in Azerbaijan. Under conditions of general water deficiency, fresh groundwater becomes a critical source of public water supply for people, agriculture and industry. Fresh groundwater features high quality, is better contamination-proof, are less dependent on annual rainfall and serves a single water supply source in vast areas. Groundwater as a factor of production force growth acquires increasingly higher significance year after year. In the Republic of Azerbaijan, within piedmont plains, 10 reservoirs of fresh and weakly mineralized groundwater are proved and being recovered, with general proved usable reserves of the order of 5 km³/yr. Fresh groundwater resources are yet unexplored in the highlands in Azerbaijan. This kind groundwater exposes as springs and is used in some countryside. At the same time, there are many mineral and thermal sources cropped out. Commercial resources of oilfield water are also sufficiently explored and studied in Azerbaijan. Fresh groundwater resources are assumed in the world to the unique inexhaustible resources if utilized intelligently and reasonably. Efficient operation and preservation of groundwater reservoirs is impossible without reliable and science-based information on the modern groundwater resources and reserves. This article considers formation conditions, resources and prospects of use of groundwater, mineral water and thermal water in piedmont and intermountain plains. For thermal and mineral; water, the authors give characteristics and balneological properties. Generalized data on flow rates of production wells allow resource evaluation and bring a conclusion on the expediency of groundwater use in various sectors of the national economy in Azerbaijan.

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