groundwater

Article

Developing Groundwater Maps for Arid Regions of Kenya and Ethiopia

With funding provided by USAID, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners are combining geospatial data from remote sensing with traditional hydrogeological methods to map groundwater resources in two study areas in Kenya and Ethiopia. The primary goals of the project are to locate and quantify the groundwater aquifers in order to support sustainable management of the resource and generate higher success rate when drilling water supply wells, as well training local water resources agency staff and others on the methodology used to develop the maps.

Article

Tanzania Balances Competing Demands for Scarce Water Resources

The Tanzanian community of Loibor Siret is a village of approximately 5,000 people (predominantly ethnic Maasai) and 15,000 head of livestock --- a number that rises and falls with the seasons. Here, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) works alongside Tanzania People & Wildlife (TPW) and community representatives to improve water management in this semi-arid landscape.

Article

Teaming Up to Improve Efficiency of Water Use for Crop Production

The Middle East Regional Irrigation Management Information System (MERIMIS) project is a quadrilateral effort to help farmers better manage scarce water resources. Started in 2003, MERIMIS involves the U.S. Department of Agriculture and government agencies and NGOs from Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority. 

Water Currents

Water Currents: Water Security

Water Currents is produced biweekly by USAID’s E3 Water Office. Each issue contains recent news and articles on water sector issues, partner and donor updates, latest sector research, and a special focus on one topic. Please provide your feedback and suggestions by contacting the waterteam@usaid.gov.

Tool

Transboundary Aquifers of Africa

This map is a cutout of the Transboundary Aquifers of the World Map, 2015. Details on the procedures for preparing this map are described in IGRAC (International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre), UNESCO-IHP (UNESCO International Hydrological Programme), 2015. Scale 1 : 50 000 000. 

Evaluation

Evaluating Installation and Performance of Manually Drilled Wells in Northeastern Madagascar

Manual drilling is a popular solution for programs seeking to increase drinking water supply in rural Madagascar. Lightweight, affordable and locally produced drilling equipment allows rapid implementation where access is problematic and funds are limited. This report will look at the practical implications of using manual drilling as a one-step solution to potable water in rural development. The main benefits of using these techniques are time and cost savings.

Video

Global Water Efficiency Gains Through Drip Irrigation

Sponsored by the USAID Global Development Lab, MyRain is making drip irrigation accessible to all the farmers of India by automating the process of designing systems for their small-plot farms, with a mobile app and on-time delivery.

Video

USAID India's Water-Energy Nexus Activity (WENEXA) Project

The agriculture sector is one of the major consumers of electricity and groundwater in India. Inefficient water pumps used by farmers lead to the overuse and waste of two important resources: energy and water. USAID's Water Energy Nexus (WENEXA) project has worked to address this problem through a pilot program that replaces inefficient pumps with efficient ones and activities which result in the improvement of the groundwater table. Watch the video to learn more.

Focus Area Topic

Water Resources Management

Water resources management encompasses the efforts of stakeholders to protect freshwater ecosystems that provide drinking water.

Why it Matters