List Groundwater Maps Africa

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Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Resource pages >> Hydrogeology and Groundwater Maps of Africa >> List of Groundwater and Hydrogeology Maps in Africa


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Hydrogeological and Groundwater Maps in Africa

The lists below give details of more than 60 hydrogeological and thematic groundwater maps of all or parts of Africa, at various scales. Many of these maps are available to view online, and weblinks are provided where relevant.

If you know of maps that aren't on this list but should be, please let us know! Email us: AfricaGWAtlas@bgs.ac.uk

Continental Maps

Hydrogeological Maps of Africa

Map Title Date Scale Editors Publishing Organisation Format Where to find Notes
Groundwater resources of Africa 2018 BGR / WHYMAP Paper , pdf Special edition produced for 7th Africa Water Week. Depicts current status on groundwater resources mapping in Africa. Includes cross sections, TBA maps and information from regional hydrogeological studies
Transboundary aquifers of Africa 2018 IGRAC and UNESCO-IHP GIS; pdf Available to view in Online map portal; pdf
Groundwater (aquifer) productivity for Africa 2012 nominal 1:20 million MacDonald et al BGS xyz tab-delimited text file (easily convertible to raster/grid in GIS) Download digital map Part of Quantitative Maps of Africa set. Shows estimated relative aquifer productivity based on potential borehole yield (properly located, constructed etc) as a proxy, with 6 classes from Very High (> 20 l/s) to Very Low (< 0.1 l/s)
Groundwater storage for Africa 2012 nominal 1:20 million MacDonald et al BGS xyz tab-delimited text file (easily convertible to raster/grid in GIS) Download digital map Part of Quantitative Maps of Africa set. Shows potential groundwater storage as water depth in mm, with 6 classes from 0 to > 50,000 mm
Depth to groundwater for Africa 2012 nominal 1:20 million MacDonald et al BGS xyz tab-delimited text file (easily convertible to raster/grid in GIS) Download digital map Part of Quantitative Maps of Africa set. Shows potential groundwater storage as water depth in mm, with 6 classes from 0 to > 50,000 mm
Groundwater resources map of Africa 2008 WHYMAP Scanned pdf map Scanned pdf map Extract from ‘Groundwater Resources map of the World
Carte hydrogeologique de l’Afrique 2008 1:10 million Jean Jaques Seguin et al BRGM Project webpage Not currently available to download
Hydrogeological map of Africa 1992 1:5 million Safar Zitoun, M. & Nouiouat, A.C Organisation Africaine de Cartographie et de Télédétection (OACT) Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Major Hydrogeological Formations (after Geological Map of Africa, 1:5,000,000) 1988 1:5 million United Nations Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal


Hydrogeological and Thematic Groundwater Maps of the world that include Africa

Map Title Date Scale Editors Publishing Organisation Format Where to find Notes
Groundwater resources of the world 2008 1:25 million & 1:40 million WHYMAP Vector shapefile; webmap service; view online; pdf poster; printed map Download shapefile or poster pdf; web map service; view online on WHYMAP Viewer or IGRAC online portal; for a printed copy contact whymap@bgr.de
Groundwater and river basins of the world 2012 WHYMAP Scanned pdf Scanned pdf
Global transboundary aquifer (TBA) maps 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 IGRAC and UNESCO-IHP Created as shapefiles; available to view in online portal; paper map on poster Online map portal
Global Groundwater vulnerability to floods & droughts 2015 1: 25 million WHYMAP Vector shapefile; paper map on poster; available to view in online portal Shapefile download ; Online map portal ; Scanned pdf map on poster
World Karst Aquifer Map 2017 WHYMAP Vector shapefile; paper map on poster; available to view in online portal Shapefile download ; Online map portal

Regional / Multi-Country Groundwater Maps

Hydrogeological Regional Maps

Map Title Date Scale Editors Publishing Organisation Format Where to find Notes
Ramotswa Aquifer 2018? Ramotswa project consortium Created as shapefiles. Available to view in online portal. Ramotswa Information Management System (RIMS) Online portal with maps of the Ramotswa aquifer (Botswana + South Africa). Multiple map layers including aquifer boundary, location of springs, groundwater levels and quality parameters, recharge.
SADC Hydrogeological map 2010 1:2.5 million Sweco Internationl (Sweden); Council for Geoscience (South Africa); Water Geosciences Consulting (South Africa) and Water Resources Consultants (Botswana). Created as shapefiles. Online portal Hydrogeological map shows aquifer lithology, flow type and groundwater potential
Middle East Hydrogeology / Vorderer Orient Hydrogeologie 1990 1: 8 million Schöler et al Universität Tübingen, Germany Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Hydrogeological Map of the Arab Region and Adjacent Areas 1988 1:5 million J Khouri & A Droubi Regional Office for Science & Technology in the Arab States, ACSAD; WRD & UNESCO Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS Covers Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, Libya, (CAR?), Algeria, Morocco, WS, Mauritania, parts of Mali, Niger & Chad
Map of groundwater resource potentiality of West and Central Africa 1986 1: 5 million BRGM Paris Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal Combines type of reservoir, mainly based on lithology and potentiality grades, based on number of wells/sources inventoried.
North Africa – Tunesia, Algeria 1983 1: 1 million Stuckmann et al German Research Society, Berlin Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Carte de Planification des Ressources en Eau du Gabon et du Congo 1982 1: 1 million Comité Interafricain d’Etudes Hydrauliques, Ouagadougou & BRGM, Orléans Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal Represents ‘renewable resource of aquifers as fraction of mean effective precipitation. Also shows exploitable reserves, main geological formations, rivers, main wells
Carte de Planification des ressources en eau du Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, du Togo et due Benin 1978 1:1 million Bourgeois Comite Interafricain d’Etudes Hydrauliques, Ougadougou / BRGM Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Carte de planification pour l’exploitation des eaux souterraines de l’Afrique soudano-sahelienne 1976 1:1.5 million BRGM with Bureau Central d’Etudes pour les equipments Outre-Mer (Mali) & Comite Inter-africain d’Etudes Hydrauliques (Niger)
Groundwater in North and West Africa 1975 1:4 million Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Carte hydrogeologique du Congo Belge et du Ruanda Urundi 1957 1:5 million M J Snel Service Geologique du Congo Belge Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal

Thematic Regional Groundwater Map

Region Map Title Date Scale Editors Publishing Organisation Format Where to find Notes
SADC Groundwater drought risk maps 2013 n/a Villholth, Tøttrup, Stendel & Maherry. IWMI GIS Available to view in SADC online portal Developed as part of the spatial analysis tool GRiMMS (Groundwater Drought Risk Mapping and Management System). Described in Villholth, Tøttrup, Stendel & Maherry. 2013. Integrated mapping of groundwater drought risk in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Hydrogeology Journal (2013) 21: 863–885. DOI 10.1007/s10040-013-0968-1

National (Country) Hydrogeological Maps

Hydrogeological national maps

Country Map Title Date Scale Editors Publishing Organisation Format Where to find Notes
Angola Mapa Hidrogeologico de Angola 1990 1:1.5 million Hidroprojecto Consultores de Hidraulica e Salubridade SA, Lisboa & MacDonald & Partners Ltd Cambridge Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Benin Carte hydrogéologique du Bénin 2012 1:500,000 GIZ & DGEau Pdf Available to download
Benin Cartes hydrogéologiques du Bénin 2012 1:250,000 GIZ & DGEau Pdf?
Benin Carte hydrogéologique du Bénin 1985 1:500,000 Engalenc Service des Mines et de la Géologie & Fonds Européen de Développemen Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Botswana Groundwater resources map of the Republic of Botswana 1987 1:1 million von Hoyer & Struckmeier Geological Survey Department, Lobatse Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Burundi Map of groundwater potential of Burundi (Carte des potentialites en eaux souteraines du Burundi) 2011 1:250,000 BRGM Pdf Image available to view in Gutierrez & Barrat (2016)
Cameroon Carte de planification des ressources en eau du Cameroun 1979 1:1,000,000 Bourgeois BRGM Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Central African Republic Carte de Planification des Ressources en Eau de la République Centrafricain 1987 1:1,500,000 Ricolvi BRGM Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Chad (Tchad) Carte Hydrogeologique de la Republique du Tchad 1969 1:500,000 Scheider & Wolff BRGM Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Core d'Ivoire Carte de Planification des Ressources en Eau de Côte d'Ivoire 1978 1:1,000,000 BRGM Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Core d'Ivoire Carte de Planification de Reconnaissance de la Côte d'Ivoire 1964 1:1,000,000 Maillary BRGM Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Djibouti Carte de Reconnaissance des Eaux Souterraines de la Republique de Djibouti 1983 1:300,000 Müller et al Service du Genie Rural, Djibouti & BGR, Hannover Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Egypt Hydrogeological Map of Egypt 1988 1:2 million Research Institute for Groundwater, Giza / Water Research Center, Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources Arab Republic of Egypt Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
eSwatini Groundwater resources of Swaziland: Hydrogeological Map 1992 1:250,000 Canadian International Development Agency; Kingdom of Swaziland Department of Geological Surveys and Mines. Georeferenced and converted to GIS format by IGRAC, 2020 Paper, scanned pdf, digital georeferenced Digital georeferenced version available to view in SADC GIP. Scanned pdf of original map available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Ethiopia Hydrogeological Map of Ethiopia 1988 1:2 million Chernet Ethiopian Institute of Geological Surveys, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Addis Abeba Paper, scanned pdf Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Lesotho Hydrogeological map of Lesotho >1993 1:300,000 Arduino et al Government of Lesotho Ministry of Natural Resources, Department of Water Affairs, Ground Water Division; Government of Italy General Directorate of Development Cooperation Scanned image available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Libya Groundwater maps of the Kingdom of Libya 1964 1:4 million Jones USGS Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Madagascar Carte Hydrogeologie de Madagascar 2008 1:500,000 Davies BGS
Malawi Hydrogeological and water quality map 2015 1:650,000 Saeze & Roos Council for Geoscience, Republic of South Africa, for Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation & Water Development pdf Download from BASEflow site
Malawi Hydrogeological reconnaissance map of Malawi 1987 1:250,000 Basali et al Department of Surveys, Blantyre
Mauritania Hydrogeologic map of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania 2013 USGS & Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines Image of map available to view in report
Mauritius Ile Maurice (Mauritius) Carte Geologique au 1:50 000 Schema hydrogeologique 1999 1:50,000 Giorgi et al Republique du Maurice; Union Europeene; Ministere des Affaires Etrangers Cooperation et Francophonie
Mozambique Carta Hidrogeologica de Mocambique 1987 1:1 million Ferro & Bouman Direccao Nacional de Aguas, Ministerio da Constucao e Aguas, Maputo Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Namibia Hydrogeological Map of Namibia 2001 1:1 million van Wyk et al Geological Survey Namibia, Department of Water Affairs, Windhoek & Bundesanstalt fur Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Hannover pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal; explanations in report Groundwater in Namibia (Christelis and Struckmeier 2001/2011)
Niger Carte de reconnaissance hydrogeologique du Niger Sud Oriental 1964 1:1 million F Pirard BRGM Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Senegal Carte Hydrogéologique de la République du Senegal 1965 1:500,000 Depagne, Moussu & Margat BRGM Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Somalia Regional Hydrogeological Map of Somaliland and Puntland 2012 1:750,000 Stevanovic & Milanovic FAO UN, SWALIM Pdf Available to download from FAO-SWALIM
Somalia Hydrogeological Map - Somalia 1971 1:1 million Popov Ministry of Mining & Water Resources, Mogadiscio Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
South Africa Groundwater harvest potential of the Republic of South Africa 1996 1:3 million Seymour et al DWAF, Pretoria Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal. See also DWAF.
South Africa Groundwater resources of the Republic of South Africa – Sheet 1 1995 1: 2.5 million Vegter et al DWAF, Pretoria Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal. See also DWAF.
South Africa Groundwater resources of the Republic of South Africa – Sheet 2 1995 1: 2.5 million Vegter et al DWAF, Pretoria Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal. See also DWAF.
South Africa Hydrogeological Map of the Republic of South Africa 2004 1:2 million I du Toit Department of Water Affairs & Forestry, Pretoria Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
South Africa Geohydrological Map Series of South Africa 1998-2002 1:500,000 Girmann et al DWAF, Pretoria
Sudan Hydrogeological Map of Sudan 1989 1:2 million National Corporation for Development of Rural Water Resources, Sudan & TNO-DGV Institute of Applied Geoscience, The Netherlands Paper
Tanzania Hydrogeological map of Tanzania 1990 1:500,000 Sir M MacDonald & Partners Ltd, Cambridge with Hidroprojecto Consultores de Hidraulica e Salubridade, SA, Lisboa Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Tunisia Carte des ressources en eau de la Tunisie 1990 1:500,000 Zebidi Direction Générale des Ressources en Eau, Tunis. Paper
Uganda Hydrogeological map of Uganda 1989 1: 1.5 million Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners / Institute of Hydrology / BGS Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in portal
Zambia Hydrogeological Map of Zambia 1990 / 2018 1:1.5 million Original map by MacDonald & Partners; reissued by WARMA & BGR. Paper, scanned pdf Scanned pdf of original map (1990) available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal. New map available to download as pdf from BGR
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Regional Hydrogeological Map 1986 1: 500,000 Ministry of Energy & Water Resources & Development, Harare Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
10 maps of main aquifers in 10 African countries 1977 1: 5 million BRGM Paper Funded by EEC and FAC (French Fund for Aid & Cooperation). Based on inventory of docs in CNRS, UNESCO & BRGM. Represents main continuous & discontinuous aquifers, graded according to facies, mean thickness & overall flow rates & water quality

Thematic National Groundwater Maps

Country Map Title Date Scale Editors Publishing Organisation Format Where to find Notes
Botswana Groundwater pollution vulnerability map 1995 1:1 million Busch & von Hoyer Geological Survey Department, Lobatse Paper, scanned pdf
Ethiopia Water security and drought 2001 1:3.5 million MacDonald et al BGS Pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Mauritania Chemical Hydrologic Map of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania 2013 USGS & Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines Image of map available to view in report
Mauritania Diagrammatic Geological Map - Location of Mauritania's Main Aquifers 1975 1:2,500,000 Elouard, P., Paloc, H., Barrere, J. et al. UN Paper map in report, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
South Africa MAR suitability map 2009 DWP Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in online map portal

Some Sub-national (e.g. district, catchment, aquifer) Hydrogeological and Thematic Groundwater Maps

Country Map Title Date Scale Editors Publishing Organisation Format Where to find Notes
Ethiopia Groundwater availability in Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia 2009 Ó Dochartaigh BGS / RIPPLE Created in GIS; available only as pdf Ó Dochartaigh (2009) Thematic map on poster with information on how it was developed
Ethiopia Groundwater Potential of part of Benishangul-Gumuz region, Ethiopia 2008 Lemacha WaterAid Ethiopia / RIPPLE Created in GIS; available only as pdf Lemacha 2008) Thematic map on poster with information on how it was developed
Ethiopia 37 maps in Abbay river basin, Ethiopia 1997 BRGM / BCEOM / ISL Maps created for 'Abbay river basin integrated development master plan project'
Ghana Groundwater development potential map for the Northern Region, Ghana 2011 Ó Dochartaigh et al BGS Created in GIS; available only as pdf in report Ó Dochartaigh et al (2011)
Ghana Afram Plains Groundwater Development Map 2002 Davies & Cobbing BGS Created in GIS; available only as pdf in report Davies & Cobbing (2002)
Kenya Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) suitability map for North Kenya 2013 Acacia Water Available to view in Online Portal
Madagascar Carte Hydrogeologique du Sud de Madagascar 1957 1:500,000 J Aurouze Service Geologique de Madagascar Paper, scanned pdf Available to view in WHYMAP/WHYMIS portal
Niger/Nigeria The transboundary hydrogeological map of the Komadugu-Yobe basin (Niger/Nigeria) 2018 1:1,000,000 Rückl Lake Chad Basin Commission / BGR Created in GIS; pdf available to view in report Rückl (2018)
Nigeria Groundwater development maps of Oju and Obi Local Areas, eastern Nigeria 1998 1:100,000 MacDonald & Davies BGS Created in GIS; available only as pdf in report MacDonald & Davies (1998)
Somalia Hydrogeological Maps for four selected areas of interest in Somaliland and Puntland 2012 1:250,000 FAO UN, SWALIM Pdf Available to download from FAO-SWALIM
Tanzania Groundwater Potential Maps for Nzega and Tabora study areas, Tanzania 2002 Davies & Ó Dochartaigh BGS Created in GIS; available only as pdf in report Davies & Ó Dochartaigh (2002) Maps with accompanying table describing geology, groundwater targets, quality and recommended field development techniques
Uganda Groundwater Maps of Uganda 1:175,000 A series of maps produced during the Groundwater Mapping Programme. Six map types, including water supply coverage, hydrochemical characteristics, water quality, hydrogeological characteristics, groundwater potential and groundwater supply technology options

Unlisted Maps

As well as the maps in the lists above, there are other maps at a country or sub-country scale, many of which were produced and/or edited by BRGM. The BRGM maps are mainly in Sahelian countries (see the map below). They were produced between 1952 and 2010, and are held in BRGM archives. Most of the maps exist as pdf images; a few are in paper (hard copy) format only. Also in BRGM's archives are more groundwater maps produced by other organisations, most of which are in paper format only. The details of these maps will be added to the lists on this page soon.

The number of groundwater maps produced and/or edited by BRGM in African countries between 1952 and 2010. These maps are held in BRGM archives.



Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Resource pages >> Hydrogeology and Groundwater Maps of Africa >> List of Groundwater and Hydrogeology Maps in Africa