Groundwater Resource Evaluation and Sustainable Management in Adelle and Haromaya Dry Lake Catchment, Eastern Ethiopia
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
The Adelle – Haromaya dry lake catchment is characterized by intensive groundwater abstraction since the demise of Lake Haromaya. Despite the small catchment size, the study area has different rock types ranging in age from Precambrian to recent unconsolidated deposits. The unconsolidated formations host the main aquifer system of the area. Groundwater is the only major source for both domestic and irrigation supplies in the area. A total water volume of 10.06 MCM per year is estimated to recharge the aquifer system. The present annual groundwater abstraction is 13.78 MCM. The estimated exploitable groundwater reserve and safe yield of the catchment are 6.73 MCM/year and 8.29MCM/year. The total groundwater abstraction is greater than the recharge and the safe yield of the aquifer. Groundwater balance in the Adelle – Haromaya dry lake catchment is in disequilibrium condition. The estimated water balance shows that the total groundwater abstraction from the catchment exceeds the annual recharge. It is obvious that the aquifer system of the catchment is overexploited. Groundwater overexploitation being practiced by abstraction from the existing wells and boreholes had resulted in significant head decline that had reached 4 meter during the year 2006. The integrated water resources management, securing water in the future should include measures that augment groundwater budget in the study area.
Keywords: Groundwater recharge; Groundwater balance; Safe yield; Adelle-Haromaya dry lake catchment
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Keywords
Groundwater recharge, Groundwater balance, Safe yield, Adelle-Haromaya dry lake catchment