Lack of holistic science on ground water undermining water resource management: Experts
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is an intergovernmental partnership of 10 Nile Basin countries, namely Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, The Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer.
Drake Nyamugabwa
Various water management experts have expressed their concern on the limited research information on ground water as one of the challenges facing water management on the Nile Basin.
Th experts who are attending the virtual 6th Nile Basin Development Forum still underway said that in order to enhance water management on the Nile basin, there is need to intensify research on various water management programs to ascertain scientific information to assist underground water development among the member countries on the Nile Basin.
Florence Adong from Ministry of Water and Environment with the 80% Ugandan Population in rural areas depending on ground water for different uses, the country needs to utilize the research information on ground water especially on the characteristics in varying places.
She said that when Ministry of Water and Environment conducted a study in hydrogeology, and water monitoring research, it helped to understand understanding on the ground water development which she said is on a small scale.
“The country lacks holistic science o water ground especially the characteristic that vary from place to place. Research studies under various programs, hydrogeology on catchments areas helped to improve our understanding underground water development.” she said
Abdala Shigid from University of Sudan for Science and Technology said that there is need to assess the challenges facing ground water in different season to ascertain dement and usage patterns of water to initiate projects to manage the water resource.
He said that in Sudan there is increasingly high concentration of the trans boarder ground water along the Nile Basin at 50% usage especially water for domestic use, irrigation ad industrial use.
The 6th Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF) going on till end of March provides a platform for dialogue and exchange of views on various topics related to transboundary water cooperation and the sustainable management and development of the water resources of the Nile River Basin.
The theme of NBDF6 is "Rethinking Regional Investments in the Nile Basin"
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 6th NBDF is being conducted virtually through a series of webinars.
To access the webinar, register here at https://www.eventleaf.com/nbdf. You will be issued with a passcode in a confirmation email to allow you join the webinar at https://zoom.us/j/98882909742
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is an intergovernmental partnership of 10 Nile Basin countries, namely Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, The Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer.
It was put in place to provide a forum for consultation and coordination among the Basin States for the sustainable management and development of the shared Nile Basin water (pictured above) and related resources for win-win benefits.
