GROUNDWATER PROTECTION IN THE ZAMBIAN GERMAN BILATERAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
Groundwater is a very important natural resource and has a significant role in the Zambian economy. It is a very important source of water for domestic use, industry and irrigation. However, in some parts of the country groundwater faces over-abstraction. Contamination of the groundwater resources due to high vulnerability to pollution present another challenge, especially in the major cities. For instance, the Lusaka dolomite, which is the main groundwater source of the city, is at risk due to the shallow groundwater tables and the thin protective cover.
It is vital to implement appropriate groundwater protection measures and management tools to safeguard and restore the water quality and quantity of groundwater for a sustainable socio- economic development. Groundwater sustains ecosystems, maintains the baseflow of the rivers and prevents land subsidence. Protection and sustainable management of limited groundwater resources is often the only solution for people without access to other safe water sources. Despite this impressive evidence, groundwater is out of sight and out of mind for most citizens. The growing socio-economic development activities in combination with adverse climate change effects are increasing the pressure on the limited groundwater resources. For sustainable groundwater management, appropriate mechanisms to regulate groundwater use have to be applied.
To attend to all these groundwater management concerns, the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection has been implementing the Groundwater Resources Management Support Programme (GReSP) since 2005. Financial support to the programme has been granted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the bilateral priority development area “Water and Sanitation” between the Republic of Zambian and the Federal Republic of Germany.
The objectives of the GReSP project are to facilitate an effective groundwater resource planning, management and protection in Zambia to strengthen the capacities in the Zambian water sector. Under BGR/GReSP, wide-ranging hydrological and hydrogeological investigation have been carried out. The project supported groundwater management, established an information system and conducted capacity building activities in Southern, Lusaka and Copperbelt Province in the last 16 years.
The current phase of the project focuses on improving water supply and groundwater protection in the City of Lusaka and on enabling sustainable groundwater management in Zambia by strengthening the technical capacities of water professionals in Zambia. The City of Lusaka is facing various social and economic challenges. Unplanned urban sprawling along the city margins and poor sanitary conditions pose high risks to the Lusaka aquifer system, which represents the main drinking water resource of the city. Over 60% of the total water supply originates from groundwater sources. BGR implements the target activities together with its partners, namely the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) and the Department of Water Resources Development (DWRD). Jointly the Zambian and German partners are exploring a new groundwater wellfield in the west of Lusaka. The wellfield will supply water to the Western peri-urban parts of the city and the industrial areas which will benefit the residents in this area. The activities will also include the delineation of protection zones and measures to secure the groundwater resources.
The GReSP project in collaboration with its partners continues to focus on improving groundwater management, protection and adaptation to climate change in Zambia. It is very vital that all stakeholders and the people of Zambia are aware of the importance of preserving and protecting this valuable resource for all Zambians today and for the future generations.