Africa Groundwater Portal

Groundwater Resources in Africa
Project Information

IGRAC presents the results of maps developed by the British Geological Survey (BGS) with University College London (UCL), funded by the UK DFID (UK Aid), to quantify the groundwater resources of Africa. These are the first quantitative continent-wide maps which give an introduction to how groundwater resources vary across Africa; their resilience to climate change; and the potential for groundwater to be used in adaptation strategies to climate and other environmental changes. The maps provide information at a continental scale, with a nominal scale of use of 1:20 million. More information about developing the maps can be found here, where digital versions can also be downloaded, and they are described in detail in MacDonald et al (2012) paper.The quantitative groundwater maps at a continental scale across Africa have been further developed by BGS and partners, under the UK UPGro research programme, to support assessments of groundwater resources at a country scale, in the Africa Groundwater Atlas. The Africa Groundwater Atlas provides an introduction to the groundwater resources of 51 African countries, and a gateway to further information, aiming to improve the availability and accessibility of high quality information on groundwater in Africa.

SADC Hydrogeological Map and Atlas

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Hydrogeological Map and Atlas was developed as part of the Regional Groundwater Management Programme in the Regional Strategic Action Plan for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management (RSAP-IWRM). The map is intended to provide information on generalised hydrogeological characteristics for the entire SADC region, focusing on the extent and geometry of regional aquifer systems. The map is designed to be a tool for hydrogeologists and water resource planners, and non-specialists alike (SADC 2010). This portal presents a selection of data from the SADC Hydrogeological Map.