A large number of SADC citizens depend on groundwater as a primary source of their water supply.
Efforts to protect groundwater across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) need urgent support and strengthening, but valuable lessons are already being learnt that can inform positive action on the African continent.
A recent study prepared by SRK Consulting for SADC’s Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) has highlighted key challenges facing Africa’s water resources, as well as the successes achieved to date by SADC-GMI. Currently hosted at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa, SADC-GMI is a regional centre of excellence for the promotion of sustainable groundwater management.
Over 70% of the 250 million people in the SADC region – which includes Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – depend on groundwater as a primary source of their water supply. At the same time, this groundwater is facing degradation from various land-use activities and over-abstraction in some areas. The role of organisations like SADC-GMI and their stakeholders is vital in addressing these trends.
Groundwater under increasing pressure
While SADC’s groundwater resources have been fairly reliable historically, they are now under increasing pressure from rapidly expanding populations – especially in cities – and economic growth in sectors like industry, mining and commercial farming.
In addition, it is expected that the prevalence of drought in the region will intensify with climate change. Already, greater groundwater drought vulnerability is being reported across the 30 known transboundary aquifers in the region.
SRK Contributors:
Darryll Kilian, Natasha Anamuthoo
Read the full article in Why Africa
