• NELSAP HOSTS PERMANENT SECRETARIES FROM NINE NBI COUNTRIES FOR
    EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TOUR TO THE 80MW REGIONAL RUSUMO PROJECT
  • KENYA AND UGANDA EXPRESS COMMITMENT TO FULL IMPLEMENTATION
    OF TRANSBOUNDARY ANGOLOLO WATER RESOURCES PROJECT
  • THE 80MW REGIONAL RUSUMO PROJECT KEY TO RWANDA ATTAINING
    ITS ENERGY SECURITY GOALS – SAYS RWANDA ENVIRONMENT PS
  • FEASIBILITY OF TRANSBOUNDARY ANGOLOLO WATER RESOURCES
    PROJECT COMPLETE, CONFIRMED VIABLE WITH 14% RATE OF RETURN
  • MINISTERS CALL ON NILE BASIN COUNTRIES TO RATIFY
    NILE BASIN COOPERATIVE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT (CFA)
  • HISTORY AND STATUS OF THE NILE BASIN COOPERATIVE
    FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT (CFA)
  • SOUTH SUDAN MINISTER CALLS FOR NBI SUPPORT TOWARDS LONG-TERM
    SOLUTIONS FOR THE RAGING FLOODS IN THE COUNTRY
  • RUSUMO SUBSTATION AND TRANSMISSION LINES NEAR COMPLETION
    AS COUNTRIES SET TO FINALIZE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS (PPA)
  • FISHERS FIND ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD FROM COMMERCIAL
    PRODUCTION OF SCHOOL CHALK, LIQUID SOAP, AND SHAMPOO
  • INSTALLATION OF HYDROMET STATIONS IN THE NILE BASIN
    COUNTRIES BEGINS
  • RUSUMO PROJECT COUNCIL OF MINISTERS VISIT THE
    80MW POWER PROJECT WHOSE CONSTRUCTION IS AT 95%
  • KENYA TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP OF THE NILE EQUATORIAL
    LAKES COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (NELCOM) FROM D.R CONGO
  • NILE BASIN COUNTRIES REAFFIRM THEIR COMMITMENT
    TO BASIN COOPERATION
  • NELSAP WELCOMES THREE NEW STAFF
  • RWANDA RECEIVES EQUIPMENT
    FOR SIX (6) HYDROMET STATIONS
  • TANZANIA TO HOST THE ANNUAL NILE BASIN
    COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (COM) MEETING
  • CONSTRUCTION OF 80MW REGIONAL RUSUMO HYDROPOWER PROJECT
    HEADING TO COMPLETION, WAS AT 93% BY MAY 2022
  • UPDATE OF FEASIBILITY OF INTERCONNECTION OF POWER GRIDS OF
    D.R CONGO -UGANDA BEGINS, WILL BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 2022
  • FROM ARTISANAL FISHING TO BEE-KEEPING: LEAF II CHANGING
    LIFE OF A YOUTH GROUP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
  • LEAF II SUPPORTS WOMEN AND YOUTH GROUPS TO INITIATE GOAT
    REARING PROJECTS TO SUPPLEMENT INCOME FROM FISHING
  • ETHIOPIA WATER MINISTER COMMENDS NELSAP FOR ESTABLISHING A
    DAM SAFETY PROJECT TO SUPPORT NILE BASIN COUNTRIES
  • BURUNDI MINISTER VISIT RUSUMO ‘BENEFIT-SHARING’ DEVELOPMENT
    PROJECTS IN GITERANYI AND BUSONI COMMUNES
  • WELCOMING THE NEW PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE
    REGIONAL RUSUMO FALLS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
  • UGANDA ACQUIRES A NEW MARINE RESEARCH VESSEL FOR LAKE ALBERT
  • LESSONS FROM PILOT CAGE AQUACULTURE VENTURE TARGETING
    ARTISANAL FISHER GROUPS ON LAKE ALBERT
  • SUN-DRYERS TO DOUBLE THE MARKET VALUE OF SMALL PELAGIC FISH
    SPECIES OF LAKE ALBERT
  • ANGOLOLO PROJECT TO SUPPLY FOUR TIMES MORE WATER THAN
    PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED, GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS COMMENCE
  • INTRODUCING NBI GROUNDWATER PROJECT - INTERVIEW WITH
    DR. MAHA ABDELRAHEEM ISMAIL, NBI GROUNDWATER PROJECT LEAD
  • NELSAP WELCOMES NEW REGIONAL COORDINATOR
    Dr. Eng. Isaac Alukwe
  • SUCCESSFUL HANDOVER OF TWO MODERN INTEGRATED LANDING SITES
    WITH COLD ROOMS AND ICE MAKING MACHINES IN EASTERN D.R CONGO
  • RWENSHAMA MODERN INTEGRATED FISH LANDING SITE IN UGANDA
    NOW COMPLETE AND IN FULL OPERATION
  • KENYA AND UGANDA FINALLY SETTLE ON EXACT LOCATION OF
    THE ANGOLOLO DAM
  • SECOND JOINT PATROLS BY D.R.C & UGANDA CONDUCTED AS FOLLOW-UP TO
    A SUCCESSFUL FIRST ONE THAT NABBED 20,000 ILLEGAL GEARS
  • 14.5 MW TRANSBOUNDARY AKANYARU PROJECT TO COMMENCE SOON,
    RWANDA APPROVES MOU, BURUNDI PREPARES FOR THE SAME
  • MOBILE PHONE AND INCREASE IN FISH QUALITY AND QUANTITY
    ON LAKES EDWARD AND ALBERT
  • D.R CONGO RETURNS, TAKES OVER ROTATING LEADERSHIP OF
    THE NILE EQUATORIAL LAKES COUNCIL OF MINISTERS (NELCOM)
  • NEW MILESTONE AS RUSUMO PROJECT ENTERS
    FINAL PHASE , CONSTRUCTION 78% COMPLETE
  • CAGE AQUACULTURE ON LAKE ALBERT, A RAY OF HOPE FOR A GROUP OF
    ARTISANAL FISHERS AS THEY PREPARE TO HARVEST 36,000 FISH
  • FIRST EVER JOINT PATROLS ON LAKES EDWARD AND ALBERT BY D.R.C AND UGANDA NAB
    THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL GEARS, SETS STAGE FOR PERMANENT JOINT MANAGEMENT
  • NELSAP-CU SUPPORTS SOUTH SUDAN TO CONDUCT FULL FEASIBILITY
    OF THE 170KM 400KV NIMULE - JUBA POWER TRANSMISSION LINE
  • FEASIBILITY IDENTIFIES TWO BEST LOCATIONS FOR ANGOLOLO DAM, TO BE
    APPROVED BY DAM SAFETY PANEL OF EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS
  • NILE BASIN STATES MUST INVEST SUBSTANTIALLY TO HARNESS THEIR WATER RESOURCES
    ENDOWMENT - SAYS ETHIOPIA WATER MINISTER HON. DR. ENG. SELESHI BEKELE
  • DRC MINISTER AND GOVERNOR PRESIDE OVER HAND-OVER OF FISH LANDING SITES,
    INSPECTS WATER AND FISH RESEARCH STATIONS AND FISH COLD ROOMS
  • BURUNDI MINISTER COMMENDS PROGRESS OF RUSUMO COMMUNITY PROJECTS AS CONSTRUCTION
    OF TWO HEALTH CENTRES AND WATER SUPPLY FOR 28,000 PEOPLE NEARS COMPLETION
  • D.R CONGO FISHERIES MINISTER REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO 3RD PHASE LEAF PROJECT,
    UNVEILS MOBILE WATER QUALITY LABORATORY
  • COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENTS OF KENYA AND UGANDA APPROVE
    ONGOING ANGOLOLO FULL FEASIBILITY STUDY
  • NILE BASIN COUNTRIES AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS AFFIRM THEIR COMMITMENT
    TO TRANS BOUNDARY COOPERATION DURING THE 23RD NELCOM MEETING
  • ETHIOPIA TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP OF NBI INVESTMENT ARM, NELSAP,
    WILL SUPPORT NELSAP TO DELIVER INVESTMENT TO ALL NBI COUNTRIES
  • COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVE PROPOSED USD 221 MILLION TRANS BOUNDARY
    WETLANDS MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENT PLAN TO COVER 3 WETLAND SITES
  • NEW ENTRO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ASSUMES OFFICE
  • LEAF II CONSTRUCTS 5 MODERN FISH LANDING SITES IN D.R CONGO AND
    UGANDA TO PROCESS 6,840 TONS OF FISH, SERVE 14,528 FISHERS
  • NELSAP IMPLEMENTS USD 15 MILLION DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR DISTRICTS
    NEIGHBORING RUSUMO PROJECT
  • NELSAP TO COMMENCE UPDATING FEASIBILITY OF D.R CONGO - UGANDA
    POWER INTERCONNECTION WITH FUNDING FROM THE AfDB
  • ANOTHER MILESTONE AS CONSTRUCTION AT THE REGIONAL RUSUMO FALLS
    HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECT PROGRESSED TO 62% IN APRIL 2020
  • FULL FEASIBILITY OF ANGOLOLO PROJECT BEGINS AS PANEL OF DAM EXPERTS,
    RPSC FORMED, COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION DONE
  • NELSAP BEGINS TO ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF HYDROLOGICAL STATIONS
    IN NEL REGION FOR EFFECTIVE RIVER BASIN PLANNING
  • DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY DRIVEN MULTI-SECTOR BASIN-WIDE
    NEL INVESTMENT PROGRAM (NELIP) TAKING SHAPE
  • NELSAP CONDUCTS FIRST EVER LAKE-WIDE SURVEY OF FISH STOCK,
    ALL FISHING GEARS AND FISHERS ON LAKES EDWARD AND ALBERT
  • INCOMING AND OUTGOING COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CHAIRS
    CONGRATULATE NELSAP FOR EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE
  • NELSAP/GIZ COMPLETE THE LOWER MARA ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW ASSESSMENT
    THAT WILL INFORM WATER ALLOCATION PLANNING IN THE MARA RIVER BASIN
  • NELSAP STEPS UP PREPARATION FOR AKANYARU MULTIPURPOSE PROJECT
    TO IRRIGATE 12,474 HA AND GENERATE 14.5MW FOR BURUNDI AND RWANDA
  • COMMISSIONING OF RWANDA-UGANDA POWER INTERCONNECTION AND
    SYNCHRONIZATION OF KENYA-UGANDA-RWANDA-BURUNDI-DRC GRIDS IN 2020
  • NEL MEMBER STATES RECEIVE CAPACITY BUILDING ON INSTITUTIONAL
    SUSTAINABILITY FOR RIVER BASIN PLANNING AND MANAGEMENTnn
  • MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL COORDINATOR,
    NELSAP-CU Eng. Elicad Elly Nyabeeya
  • NELSAP IMPROVING ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY AND
    ENERGISING NILE BASIN ECONOMIES
  • ENERGY MINISTERS APPRECIATE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS
    OF REGIONAL RUSUMO HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
  • NELSAP-CU REGIONAL COORDINATOR BRIEFS SOUTH SUDAN
    VICE PRESIDENT ON THE NYIMUR-LIMUR PROJECT
  • LEAF II PROJECT HANDS OVER MOBILE
    WATER QUALITY LABORATORIES TO UGANDA
  • NELSAP-CU LAUNCHES ANGOLOLO IRRIGATION
    DEVELOPMENT AND WATERSHED PROJECT
  • DR CONGO CONSTRUCTING FISH LANDING SITES,
    WATER QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS THROUGH LEAF II
  • NELSAP-CU Undertakes Dam Safety Training
    for the Nile Equatorial Lakes Countries
  • The Tanzania Prime Minister Officiates
    NELCOM 2018 Council of Ministers Meeting
  • LEAF II PROJECT PROVIDES 4 FULLY EQUIPPED PATROL BOATS
    TO D.R CONGO AND UGANDA, TRAINS ON THEIR USE

What is the Importance of Groundwater?
Our planet is called the ‘blue planet’ because 71% of it is covered with water. However 97% of this water is saline, with freshwater comprising only 3% and most of this freshwater (2.5%) is concentrated at the two poles (North and South Pole). Freshwater exists in four major reservoirs; atmosphere (air and clouds), lithosphere (in the rocks) hydrosphere (lakes and rivers) and biosphere (in the plants and animals). Water continuously moves across these four main reservoirs. Away from the Poles, most of the available fresh water is groundwater (0.61%) with rivers and lakes holding only a small percentage (0.009%) thus making groundwater the second most important strategic water reserve. Groundwater can be from fresh replenish-able sources or from non-replenish-able sources. It can be from a distant or near area, from confined or un-confined aquifer (ground water reservoir), can be old water or new water.

Groundwater PIC 1Tell us about Aquifers in the Nile Basin and key Challenges Facing their existence
About 43-53% of Nile Basin population depend on groundwater and this percentage increases greatly as you move further from the Nile River corridors. The Nile Basin has many aquifers, several shared by more than one country. Quantity of water they hold, its distribution, how much is being extracted is not well recorded. Unlike the Nile Rivers and Lakes in the Basin, there are no commissions for shared groundwater, no shared development plans and no shared standards for quality control and extraction rates.

The second challenge is pollution from mining especially of gold, which uses water and dangerous chemicals like cyanide and mercury. The other challenge is urbanization and use of chemicals in agriculture especially in rice farming. Bottled water business also pose a challenge. These businesses don’t use Nile waters because it is more expensive to purify. Conventional use like domestic, livestock, or use in agriculture on the other hand doesn’t affect groundwater as much.

Is there enough information on groundwater and are there regulations and policies governing groundwater in the Nile Basin?
Whereas already there is some information on groundwater, most of it is very technical so it doesn’t help decision makers. Generally groundwater is extracted based on need without consideration of the potential impact of the withdrawal on the aquifer or on other users. Monitoring of groundwater sources is important as it will assess possibility of over-abstraction, which can lead to draw down of the groundwater table or reduction in surface water sources (reduced river base flow, drying up of springs, and depletion of aquifers). Water resources monitoring in most countries in the basin prioritizes surface water sources while groundwater monitoring networks are either nonexistent or function poorly. As a result, data on groundwater is scarce or may not be reliable, and is not easily accessible.

What if NEL countries continue with ‘business as usual,’ what effect could that have on groundwater over the next 30 years?
The whole water system is connected and integrated, so groundwater cannot be looked at in isolation. If you don’t take care of surface water, it will affect groundwater, if you don’t take care agriculture, or mining, pollutants will infiltrate and pollute groundwater, and if you don’t take care of air pollution, it will affect surface water which in turn will affect ground-water. So it is better to think and act holistically on the entire water cycle.

Dr Maha IsmaelWhat are the key misconceptions around Groundwater?
Most people think groundwater is found in confinement between two non-permeable rocks or non-transmissible rocks and so is not subject to pollution. This is not always the case. Ground water often flows from one area to another so during the flow it can be polluted. Secondly some people think that groundwater is plenty and endless, so you can drill as much as you like. But this is also not true. Groundwater depends very much on recharge and continuous replenishment from surface water. When there is no replenishment, you need to calculate how much water there is in the aquifer, then calculate number of years of extraction so that when the well dries up, you are prepared for that.

Are there examples where groundwater is being managed sustainably that NEL countries can emulate?
It is very useful to identify successful groundwater management stories. I will give two examples.

The first is an in-country aquifer in Sudan called Al Hawata. The Al Hawata Project begun in early 70s and its lifetime was given as 23 years and was supposed to run out of water by the year 2000, however it is still providing water to-date, 30 years beyond the expected life-time. Why? Because it is community owned, community led and community managed. Al Hawata was meant to serve 7 villages, now it is serving 65 villages successfully. They have an Association through which management, operations, planning, projection of use and continuous learning is done. This is a very good success story that need to be documented, shared and upgraded and taken as a role model that people can learn from its success.

The second is the transboundary Nubia Sandstone Aquifer shared between four countries, two of which are in the Nile Basin – Egypt, Sudan, Chad and Libya. It is the largest aquifer in the world covering more than 2 million square kilometers with average water depth of 1-2kilometers. The Nubia Sandstone is a fossil aquifer, formed 10,000 years ago from the Chad Basin, when the region witnessed a lot of heavy rains and had forests and lakes. However, due to desertification the area is now bare, does not receive any significant rain and may not ever receive rain in future. Only a small portion of it is recharged by the Nile Basin but generally it has no recharge. Any abstraction from it is permanent - basically a process of groundwater mining. The four countries sharing the aquifer have a Framework for Cooperation and Management of the aquifer. Previously it had a High Commission with a well-organized body. The four countries are discussing principles of future use of the aquifer. Most agriculture in the area is rainfed, with communities engaging in pastoralism through natural grazing which uses very little water. Egypt uses it to grow grapes for wine on a small scale in the western oasis while Libya has also piped it for some controlled irrigation.

About the NBI Groundwater Project and its Outputs
The project is titled ‘Enhancement of Conjunctive use of Ground-Surface Water.’ It begun this year and is focusing on three shared aquifers, two of which are in the NEL region. Mt. Elgon aquifer, Kagera and Gadare-Adigrad. The project has five components.

Component 1: This component aims to create a Groundwater Inventory that can be used by countries. It will produce three publications that show condition of three shared aquifers (Mt. Elgon, Kagera and Gadare-Adigrad). These will include modelling and production of different scenarios up to 2050, factoring in climate change, and abstraction rates among others.
Component 2: Action Plans; Focuses on production of monitoring guidelines that will be adopted by seven and later 10 NBI countries.
Component 3: Pilot projects: Under it, there are some suggested pilot groundwater projects to be implemented by countries.
Component 4: Capacity Development. This component will produce manuals for training that can be upgraded by countries and used as ready capacity development materials.
Component 5: Strengthening of knowledge and awareness raising. This component will produce various knowledge materials to raise awareness for different categories of stakeholders.

This project is funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
For more on this project kindly visit … https://nilebasin.org/groundwater