Urban groundwater in Africa

Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Resource pages >> Urban groundwater in Africa

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Groundwater in towns and cities is increasingly important in Africa. Africa is experiencing rapid urbanisation: the UN estimates that by 2035, 50% of all Africans will live in urban settlements. With urban populations and urban areas growing all the time, the demand for water in urban areas is also growing. Within the overall pattern of urbanisation in Africa, much of the growth is concentrated in towns and smaller urban centres, not only in big cities; and much of the urban population growth is in low income groups. This presents particular challenges for water supply and sanitation in general, and for groundwater resource development and protection in particular.

Groundwater has much to offer in an urban context in Africa: it is a resource that urban dwellers, planners and managers can't afford to overlook. But to continue being useful, groundwater must also be protected from over-abstraction and from pollution.

This page provides some background on the issue of urban groundwater and links to more information.

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