Abstract: Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou cities are located in the river network plain of south Jiangsu where the surface water system develops wel1. In recent years, exploitation of groundwater is increasing due to the serious pollution of surface water in this area. The second and third confined aquifers are exploited heavily in the areas. As a result of absence of proper knowledge and scientific management, groundwater has been overexploited for a long time, leading to a decline of water level and deterioration of water quality. Consequently, a series of environmental geological problems and geologic hazards is arosed, such as land subsidence and surface geofracture, which could cause huge economic loses. As for the problems of groundwater exploitation and utilization, appropriate countermeasures must be taken to protect groundwater resources. The proposals of reasonable exploration and protection are discussed in this paper based on the viewpoint of sustainable development. First, more aquifers should be exploited to avoid centralized exploitation, and reduce the abstraction of deep aquifers and make full use of shallow aquifer. Second, measures of broadening sources of income and reducing expenditure are encouraged. For reasonable and full use of groundwater resources, it is necessary to raise repeat utilization ratio of groundwater avoid wasting water quality and stick to the principal that groundwater should be used repeatedly and economically. Meanwhile, artificial recharge should be carried out actively under the condition that recharged water quality must be qualified. It is also important to strengthen groundwater resources management, monitoring and protection The exploitation and protection of groundwater resources should be simultaneous.