Ground Water Resource Evaluation and Management Practices in Gilgel Abay Catchment, Tana Basin
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Date
2010-01
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Groundwater resource is the most important natural resource in the study area. The
rapidly increasing agriculture, industry and domestic water supply requirements in the
study area meet mainly from groundwater. Groundwater is usually protected against
contamination from the surface by soils and covering rock layers. This why most
drinking water in many areas of the world is groundwater.
Due to steep increase in population along with the associated activities, the water demand
for groundwater in the study area is maximized from time to time. However, water can be
constraint if not properly managed and developed. Even though the water supply
coverage of the study area is increases, a significant number of the water supply schemes
in the catchment are non functional due to different reasons, which implies that no
effective system of groundwater management practices in the area.
The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the groundwater potential of Gilgel
Abay catchment and to assess management issues in the catchment. To achieve this
objective recharge to the groundwater was estimated based soil-water balance method
and a value of approximately 489mm annual recharge to the catchments’ aquifer was
obtained. In the catchment two aquifer systems were identified based the available well
log data and pumping test data namely: Quaternary vesicular basalt and Tertiary
scoracious basalt. The groundwater flow direction, recharge area, and discharge area
were identified using chemical plotting of trends of major ions, TDS and EC. As the
groundwater moves from recharge to discharge areas along its path it evolved from Ca2+-
HCO3 type to Na+-HCO3 type.
Concerning the management practices, five representative woredas with their respective
PA which can characterize the whole water supply problem of the catchment were chosen
for house hold water economy analysis. Findings of the study reveal that there are about
354 water supply points, out of which 94 non functional. Lack of skilled manpower, poor
construction and maintenance, poor planning and management practices, low community
participation are the main problems regarding the water supply schemes. Findings of the
study also indicate high community participation, wide investment opportunity for
private sector, capacity building of professionals and accountability and transparency of
government officials are the main factors to sustain water supply schemes
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Keywords
Ground Water Resource Evaluation