GROUNDWATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN TANZANIA
BY
MR. LISTER R.E. KONGOLA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
WATER RESOURCES DIVISION
BACKGROUND
Basic facts
• Location: Tanzania is located on the east coast of Africa and just south of the Equator
• Area: 945,000 km2
• Population: 34 million (2002)
Basic facts Cont..
Climate:
• Tropical;
• Humid around the lakes, coast, northern and southern highlands. Rainfall 1000 to more than 2000 mm/annum with 2 rain seasons.
• Semi – Arid in Central part. Rainfall 400 – 500 mm/annum with 1 rain season.
Basic facts Cont..
Geology and Hydrogeology:
• 75% of country is Pre-Cambrian crystalline basement complex. Groundwater occurrence potential in weathered and fractured bedrock
and unconsolidated sediments. 25%
sedimentary and volcanic rocks, also potential for groundwater.
• Recharge by direct rain infiltration and influent flow from rivers.
• Groundwater resources about 40 km3/annum.
Groundwater use
• More than 10,000 deep wells and 100,000 shallow wells used for groundwater supply as follows:-
• Amount small compared to available groundwater ; 11 MCM per day.
100 1,265,000
Total
28 350,000
Others(Livestock,dry land fishing)
2 30,000
Industrial+Mining
10 130,000
Agriculture
50 625,000
Rural
10 130,000
Urban
% of total use
Amount used Per day (m3) Sector
Groundwater Management Issues:
• Depletion of groundwater sources
• Pollution of Groundwater Sources
• Catchment Degradation
• Lack of Knowledge on Groundwater Resources Potential
• Lack of Groundwater Resources Monitoring
IMPACTS
• Groundwater Resources Potential
• Catchment Degradation
• Pollution of Groundwater sources
• Lack of Integrated Planning and Coordination amongst Sectors
• Lack of Groundwater Monitoring Network
CHANGES NEEDED
• National Water Policy, 2002
• Groundwater Resources Management Strategy
• Institutional Framework for Water Resources Management
• Legal and Regulatory Framework
• Demand Management
• Assessment of Groundwater Resources Potential
CHANGES NEEDED Cont..
• Incentives to Private Water Wells Drilling Companies
• Conjunctive use of Surface and Groundwater
• Conservation and Protection of Catchment Areas
• Protection of Groundwater Sources and Prevention and Pollution Control
• Groundwater Resources Monitoring
PLANNED ACTIONS
• National Water Policy
• Groundwater Resources Management Strategy
• Institutional Framework
• Legal and Regulatory Framework
• Assessment of Groundwater Resources Potential
• Groundwater Resources Monitoring
REMAINING GAPS
• Protection of water sources and conservation of catchments in school/education curricula
• Strong political will and commitment to water resources management lacking
• Financial resources allocated to water resources management inadequate.
• Installation of data collection networks requires high capital investments.
LESSONS LEARNED
• Groundwater resources progressively playing important role in socio- economic development of Tanzania
• Proper management of groundwater resources requires comprehensive assessment of available resources to enable scientific planning for their development and sustainable utilization.
LESSONS LEARNED Cont..
• Sustainable utilization of groundwater resources requires network to monitor short and long term trends in quantity and
quality. Also, effective and implementable plans on conservation of
catchments and protection of water sources.
• Effective involvement and active participation of communities and stakeholders is crucial for efficient water use and conservation of catchments and protection of water sources.
CONCLUSIONS
• Tanzania needs to establish her groundwater resources potential by conducting a detail assessment.
• It is important to install an operating groundwater network to monitor short and long term trends in quantity and quality.
• Legislation in management of groundwater resources is important. But, effective involvement and participation of communities and stakeholders in conservation and protection of catchments and water sources is crucial.
