Groundwater access
The characteristics that often make groundwater attractive include its ubiquitous and perennial presence, high storage capacity, good water quality (usually), resilience to inter-annual climate variability and low cost relative to alternative sources.
However, the height of the water table depends on a lot of factors: type of soils or rock beneath the surface, nearby reservoirs or rivers, and frequency or overall total abstraction of water from populations nearby. Also consider the quality of the groundwater. Is it too salty or near an agricultural runoff or sewage water area? Locate the infiltration or abstraction points where the water is least likely to be affected by pollutants.
Climate change considerations
Climate change affects the precipitation and temperature dynamics on a global scale, and hence will impact upon the supply and demand for water of local communities. Enhancing water storage capacity, both above and below ground, is widely accepted as a coping strategy against hydrological shocks such as floods and droughts.
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Groundwater links
- Global Overview of Saline Groundwater Occurrence and Genesis. IGRAC, 2009.
- Sustainable Development of Groundwater Resources in Southern and Eastern Africa. International Atomic Energy Agency.
Acknowledgements
- Management of Ground Water in Africa Including Transboundary Aquifers: Implications for Food Security, Livelihood and Climate Change Adaptation. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, African Climate Policy Centre, 2011.