Hydrogeology of Sierra Leone

Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Hydrogeology by country >> Hydrogeology of Sierra Leone

Most of the textual information on this page was taken from the chapter on Sierra Leone in the report ‘Groundwater in North and West Africa’ (UN 1988). This information is outdated. If you have more recent information on the hydrogeology of Sierra Leone, please get in touch.

Compilers

Dr Kirsty Upton and Brighid Ó Dochartaigh, British Geological Survey, UK

Geographical Setting

Map of Sierra Leone (For more information on the datasets used in the map see the geography resources section)

General

Estimated Population in 2013*	XXX
Rural Population (% of total) (2013)*	XXX%
Total Surface Area*	XXX sq km
Agricultural Land (% of total area) (2012)*	XXX%
Capital City	XXX
Region	XXX
Border Countries	XXX
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal (2013)*	XXX Million cubic metres
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Agriculture (2013)*	XXX%
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Domestic Use (2013)*	XXX%
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Industry (2013)*	XXX%
Rural Population with Access to Improved Water Source (2012)*	XXX%
Urban Population with Access to Improved Water Source (2012)*	XXX%

* Source: World Bank

Climate

• 
  Koppen Geiger Climate Zones
• 
  Average Annual Precipitation
• 
  Average Temperature

For further detail on the climate datasets used see the climate resources section.

Surface water

Surface Water Map of Sierra Leone (For more information on the datasets used in the map see the surface water resources section)

Soil

Soil Map of Sierra Leone (For map key and more information on the datasets used in the map see the soil resources section)

Land cover

Land Cover Map of Sierra Leone (For map key and more information on the datasets used in the map see the land cover resources section)

Geology

This section provides a summary of the geology of Sierra Leone. More information is available in the report UN (1988) (see References section, below).

The geology map shows a simplified version of the geology at a national scale (see the Geology resources page for more details).

Geological Environments

Key Formations	Period	Lithology	Structure
Geological Environment 1
Name of formation1	Time period	Description	Structure
Geological Environment 2
Geological Environment 3

Hydrogeology

This section provides a summary of the hydrogeology of the main aquifers in Sierra Leone. More information is available in the report UN (1988) (see References section, below).

The hydrogeology map shows a simplified version of the type and productivity of the main aquifers at a national scale (see the Aquifer properties resource page for more details).

Unconsolidated

Named Aquifers	Period	General Description	Water quality

Sedimentary - Intergranular Flow

Named Aquifers	Period	General Description	Water quality

Sedimentary - Intergranular & Fracture Flow

Named Aquifers	Period	General Description	Water quality

Sedimentary - Fracture Flow

Named Aquifers	Period	General Description	Water quality

Basement

Named Aquifers	Period	General Description	Water quality

Groundwater use and management

Transboundary aquifers

For further information about transboundary aquifers, please see the Transboundary aquifers resources page

References

The following report provides more information on the geology and hydrogeology of Sierra Leone. It, and others, can be accessed through the Africa Groundwater Literature Archive

United Nations. 1988. Groundwater in North and West Africa: Sierra Leone. United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development and Economic Commission for Africa. Department of Technical Cooperation for Development and Economic Commission for Africa, Natural Resources/Water Series No. 18.

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Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Hydrogeology by country >> Hydrogeology of Sierra Leone