Groundwater in Ethiopia Features, Numbers and Opportunities

About this book

Groundwater in Ethiopia provides a comprehensive description of groundwater resources in Ethiopia and its various dimensions (groundwater as resource, environmental functions, and socioeconomics). The prevailing knowledge of groundwater resources in Ethiopia (or elsewhere in Sub Saharan Africa) was based on geological and stratigraphic framework known nearly four decades ago (mainly 1960's and 70's). Thanks to the substantial geoscientific research since the 70's a new set of relevant geological/stratigrahpic data has been created that helps to re-define our understanding of groundwater resources in Africa as a whole and in Ethiopia in particular:

a) For the first time the basement aquifer of Ethiopia has been described hydrogeologically based on genesis of regoliths (deep weathering and striping history); clear regional difference in groundwater potential is shown for the first time; comparative accounty has been given regarding groundwater occurrence in the generally low grade basement rocks of Ethiopia (Arabian Nubian shield) and high grade basement rocks of the rest of Africa.
b) For the first time groundwater occurrence in multilayred sedimentary rocks account for spatial variation in degree of karstification; deformation history, and stratigraphy.
c) The vast volcanic aquifers of Ethiopia which have previously classified based on their ages are now reclassified based on age, morphology (eg. groundwater in plateau volcanics, groundwater in shield volcanics) and aquifer structure.
d) The loose alluvio lacustrine sediments which were known as least extensive in previous works based on areal cover are in fact shown to host the most voluminous groundwater resources in Ethiopia. These aquifers have now been described based on their geomorphology, extent, and genesis.

Contents

- Groundwater in regions and basins
- Very shallow and shallow groundwater
- Geochemistry and water quality
- Isotope hydrology in water cycle studies in Ethiopia
- Functions of Groundwater
- Groundwater potential, recharge, water balance: vital numbers
- Groundwater human health and sanitation
- Groundwater as strategic resource
- Groundwater management

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