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[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources | Resource pages]] >> Groundwater monitoring
[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources | Resource pages]] >> [[Groundwater Management |Groundwater management]] >> Groundwater monitoring


   This page is still in development.
   This page is still in development.


  Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2021. Groundwater monitoring. British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. ''Weblink''.
Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2021. Groundwater monitoring. British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. ''Weblink''.




Groundwater monitoring is a key part of overall groundwater management.


See also the [[Groundwater Data | '''Groundwater data''']] page.
==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 in Africa | '''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 [https://www.un-igrac.org/special-project/ggmn-global-groundwater-monitoring-network 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 [https://www.un-igrac.org/ 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===
[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265687126_Monitoring_groundwater_use_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa_Issues_and_Challenges Adelana (2009)] discusses some of the issues with monitoring groundwater resources in Africa.
===Overview of national quantitative groundwater monitoring programmes===
[https://www.un-igrac.org/ IGRAC] (2020) published a [https://www.un-igrac.org/resource/national-groundwater-monitoring-programmes-global-overview-quantitative-groundwater '''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 [https://www.un-igrac.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/Monitoring%20overview%20-%20Africa.pdf '''National Groundwater Monitoring Programmes in Africa''']
Another IGRAC report discusses [https://www.un-igrac.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/Kukuric%20and%20van%20Vliet%2C%202008.pdf '''improving groundwater monitoring networks in Africa'''] (Kukuric & van Vliet, 2020).
===Groundwater quality monitoring===
A new World Bank report in 2022 provides a [https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37196 '''Practical Manual on Groundwater Quality Monitoring'''] (Ravenscroft and Lytton 2022).
===Groundwater monitoring in the SADC Region===
[https://www.un-igrac.org/ IGRAC] produced an overview report on [https://www.un-igrac.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/Report_Groundwater%20Monitoring%20in%20SADC%20region.pdf Groundwater Monitoring in the SADC Region] for the Stockholm World Water Week in 2013.
===References===
IGRAC. 2020a. [https://www.un-igrac.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/National%20groundwater%20monitoring%20programmes%20-%20A%20global%20overview%20of%20quantitative%20groundwater%20monitoring%20networks-2021%20update_0.pdf Groundwater monitoring programmes: A global overview of quantitative groundwater monitoring networks].
IGRAC. 2020b. [https://www.un-igrac.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/Monitoring%20overview%20-%20Africa.pdf National Groundwater Monitoring Programmes in Africa]. Extract from full report: IGRAC 2020b.
Kukuric N & van Vliet MTH. 2020. [https://www.un-igrac.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/Kukuric%20and%20van%20Vliet%2C%202008.pdf Improving the Groundwater Monitoring Network in Africa: contribution to an integrated approach for assessing the impact of climate change and socio-economic developments on groundwater resources in Africa].
Ravenscroft, Peter and Lytton, Lucy. 2022. [https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37196 Practical Manual on Groundwater Quality Monitoring]. Washington, DC: World Bank.  License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Return to [[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources | Resource pages]] >> [[Groundwater Management | Groundwater management ]]




Return to [[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources | Resource pages]] >> [[Groundwater management and use| Groundwater management and use]]




[[Category:Additional resources]]
[[Category:Additional resources]]
[[Category:Africa Groundwater Atlas]]
[[Category:Africa Groundwater Atlas]]

Latest revision as of 10:08, 23 January 2023

Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Resource pages >> Groundwater management >> Groundwater monitoring

  This page is still in development.

Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2021. Groundwater monitoring. British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. Weblink.


See also the Groundwater data page.


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).

Groundwater monitoring in the SADC Region

IGRAC produced an overview report on Groundwater Monitoring in the SADC Region for the Stockholm World Water Week in 2013.

References

IGRAC. 2020a. Groundwater monitoring programmes: A global overview of quantitative groundwater monitoring networks.

IGRAC. 2020b. National Groundwater Monitoring Programmes in Africa. Extract from full report: IGRAC 2020b.

Kukuric N & van Vliet MTH. 2020. Improving the Groundwater Monitoring Network in Africa: contribution to an integrated approach for assessing the impact of climate change and socio-economic developments on groundwater resources in Africa.

Ravenscroft, Peter and Lytton, Lucy. 2022. Practical Manual on Groundwater Quality Monitoring. Washington, DC: World Bank. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Return to Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Resource pages >> Groundwater management