Groundwater monitoring

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What is groundwater monitoring?

Monitoring the state of groundwater resources is a key part of overall groundwater management. Monitoring data is essential to assess both the quantity and quality of groundwater.

Monitoring groundwater quantity usually means regular measurement of groundwater levels - also called the water table. Groundwater levels are usually measured in boreholes. Groundwater levels rise in response to recharge (and therefore in response to rainfall), and can fall during dry periods or because of groundwater abstraction. The timing and amount of fluctuation in groundwater levels lets us assess how much groundwater is available in aquifers. Groundwater quantity monitoring can also include measuring and recording groundwater abstraction rates from boreholes and wells, and spring discharge rates.

Monitoring groundwater quality means regular measurement of selected aspects of groundwater quality. This can range from simple (e.g. measuring selected chemical parameters in groundwater in the field using field meters or field test kits) to complex (collecting multiple groundwater samples for laboratory analysis of many different parameters).

Groundwater monitoring can be done by measuring groundwater anywhere it is accessible, but it is usually done - and is most effective - using a dedicated network of monitoring sites, which may be springs, boreholes or wells. Not all monitoring sites are appropriate for monitoring all groundwater parameters. The most effective groundwater monitoring data is collected from carefully selected monitoring sites, which may need to be specifically designed and constructed for the purpose - e.g. a newly drilled dedicated groundwater level monitoring borehole sited away from any other groundwater abstraction, so that it is not impacted by pumping.

Useful resources on groundwater monitoring in Africa

IGRAC Global Groundwater Monitoring Network

The Global Groundwater Monitoring Network (GGMN): a participative, web-based network of networks, set up to improve quality and accessibility of groundwater monitoring data, which is lacking at the regional and global scales. GGMN is a UNESCO programme, implemented by IGRAC and supported by many global and regional partners. The GGMN Portal allows groundwater monitoring data to be viewed in IGRAC's online Global Groundwater Information System (GGIS). A mobile app lets users enter new groundwater monitoring data to the GGMN.

Overview of groundwater monitoring in Africa

Adelana (2009) discusses some of the issues with monitoring groundwater resources in Africa.

Overview of national quantitative groundwater monitoring programmes

IGRAC (2020) published a global review of national quantitative groundwater monitoring programmes that includes many countries in Africa. IGRAC also produced an extract from this report that only includes National Groundwater Monitoring Programmes in Africa

Another IGRAC report discusses improving groundwater monitoring networks in Africa (Kukuric & van Vliet, 2020).

Groundwater quality monitoring

A new World Bank report in 2022 provides a Practical Manual on Groundwater Quality Monitoring (Ravenscroft and Lytton 2022).