Groundwater Management in the Southern African Development Community Prepared for Supported by Prepared by Kevin Pietersen and Hans Beekman ABSTRACT An assessment of groundwater management in the Southern African Development Community (SADC region) was carried out. Numerous sources of information (peer- reviewed journal articles, books, published reports and databases in the public domain) were solicited, reviewed, and data was mined using a framework analysis approach. Groundwater in the SADC region is prone to degradation from various land-use activities and in some areas over-abstraction. In many cases, groundwater infrastructure in SADC countries is not maintained resulting in failure to supply communities. There is a good understanding of aquifer systems at the regional level. Transboundary aquifers have been delineated and areas prone to groundwater drought have been identified. Information systems to manage groundwater data, however, are disparate throughout the region and institutions to manage groundwater are inadequate and are functioning within an environment of scarce financial and human resources. The hydrogeological capacity in public institutions such as government departments is a major concern and regulations to protect groundwater resources are often not in place. This includes instruments to control groundwater abstraction and potentially-polluting activities. Where regulatory instruments are in place, often no enforcement or sanctions of unlawful activities are taking place. There is also limited coordination with other sectors such as energy and mining. Furthermore, the implementation of groundwater management action plans, where developed, is weak. Overall, groundwater management in the SADC region was found to be poor. Whilst the groundwater management challenges are great there are opportunities for the SADC-Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) to support diagnostic analysis of transboundary aquifer systems, competency development, establishing regional groundwater monitoring networks, strengthening institutional frameworks, and development of groundwater resources to clear the backlog in access to improved water supply, amongst others. i CONTENTS 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Importance of groundwater in SADC .............................................................................................................. 1 3. Approach to the study ..................................................................................................................................... 3 4. Country status overview .................................................................................................................................. 4 4.1 Water Management ............................................................................................................................. 4 4.1.1 Water Resources ...................................................................................................................... 4 4.1.2 Water use and water access .................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Water Governance .............................................................................................................................. 11 4.2.1 Formal institutional environment: water law and policy ............................................................ 11 4.2.2 Institutional arrangements ........................................................................................................ 12 4.2.3 Information management ......................................................................................................... 12 4.2.4 Hydrogeological capacity and training ...................................................................................... 13 5. Transboundary aquifers .................................................................................................................................. 14 5.1 Classification of the TBAs within the SADC region .............................................................................. 14 5.2 Legal mechanisms and institutional frameworks ................................................................................. 18 6. Conclusions and recommendations ................................................................................................................ 18 6.1 Water management ............................................................................................................................. 18 6.2 Water Governance .............................................................................................................................. 19 6.2.1 Formal institutional environment: water law and policy ............................................................ 19 6.2.2 Institutional arrangements ........................................................................................................ 19 6.2.3 Information management ......................................................................................................... 19 6.2.4 Hydrogeological capacity and training ...................................................................................... 23 6.3 Transboundary Aquifers ...................................................................................................................... 23 6.4 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................... 23 7. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................... 24 8. References ..................................................................................................................................................... 24 8.1 Publications used for position paper .................................................................................................... 24 8.2 Key databases and publications used for SADC country reports ........................................................ 26 Angola ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 Water Management ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Water resources .................................................................................................................................. 27 Water use and water access ............................................................................................................... 28 Water Governance .......................................................................................................................................... 29 Formal institutional environment: water law and policy ........................................................................ 29 Institutional arrangements ................................................................................................................... 29 Information management ..................................................................................................................... 30 Hydrogeological capacity and training ................................................................................................. 30 Key challenges and opportunities ................................................................................................................... 31 Botswana ................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 32 Water Management ........................................................................................................................................ 32 Water resources .................................................................................................................................. 32 Water use and water access ............................................................................................................... 34 Water Governance .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Formal institutional environment: water law and policy ........................................................................ 34 Institutional arrangements ................................................................................................................... 35 Information management ..................................................................................................................... 35 Hydrogeological capacity and training ................................................................................................. 35 Key challenges and opportunities ..................................................................................................................