Your search found 61 records
1 Sharma, Bharat R.; Villholth Karen G.; Sharma, K. D. (Eds.) 2006. Groundwater research and management: integrating science into management decisions. Proceedings of IWMI-ITP-NIH International Workshop on "Creating Synergy Between Groundwater Research and Management in South and Southeast Asia," Roorkee, India, 8-9 February 2005. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 270p. (Groundwater governance in Asia series 1) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2011.0025]
Groundwater management ; Governance ; Groundwater development ; Artificial recharge ; Water quality ; Aquifers ; Groundwater irrigation ; Water balance ; Simulation models ; Watershed management ; Water harvesting ; Decision making / South East Asia / Bangladesh / China / India / Nepal / Pakistan / Syria
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: IWMI 333.9104 G000 SHA Record No: H039304)
(0.39 MB)
2 Giordano, Mark; Villholth, Karen G.. (Eds.) 2007. The agricultural groundwater revolution: opportunities and threats to development. Wallingford, UK: CABI. 419p. (Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture Series 3)
Groundwater management ; Environmental effects ; Irrigated farming ; Groundwater depletion ; Recharge / South Asia / China / Middle East / Africa South of Sahara / USA / India / Spain / Australia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 631.7.6.3 G000 GIO Record No: H040039)
3 Villholth, Karen G.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie H.; Jeyakumar, P. 2008. Tsunami impacts on shallow groundwater and associated water supplies on the east coast of Sri Lanka. In Bhattacharya, P.; Ramanathan, A. L.; Mukherjee, A. B.; Bundschuh, J.; Chandrasekharam, D.; Keshari, A. K. (Eds.). Groundwater for sustainable development: problems, perspectives and challenges. London, UK: Taylor & Francis. pp.211-222.
Tsunamis ; Coastal area ; Groundwater ; Aquifers ; Wells ; Flooding ; Monitoring ; Drinking water ; Salinity ; Water supply / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI 333.9104 G744 VIL Record No: H041664)
In order to assess the immediate and intermediate impacts of the December 26, 2004 tsunami on groundwater and associated water supply on the east coast of Sri Lanka, a monitoring program, focusing on domestic drinking water wells, was conducted in three study areas in the period March to July, 2005. The areas investigated were overlaying shallow, unconfined sandy aquifers, and the topography was flat. A total of 150 wells were monitored, covering both affected (inundated by tsunami water) and unaffected wells. Results indicate that wells were affected by salinity intrusion to various degree between the sites and within sites, up to 1.5 km inland. Thirty nine percent of all monitored wells had been flooded within a distance of 2 km from the coastline. Salinity levels after seven months after the tsunami were above a defined drinking water acceptability criterion (1000 µS/cm) in the majority of the affected, tsunami-flooded wells (91%). Excess salinity in wells is expected to persist for at least one more monsoon season.
4 Sun, R.; Jin, M.; Giordano, Mark; Villholth, Karen G.. 2009. Urban and rural groundwater use in Zhengzhou, China: challenges in joint management. Hydrogeology Journal, 16(6):1495-1506.
Groundwater management ; Groundwater development ; Water supply ; Water use ; Groundwater depletion ; Water governance ; Institutions ; Water policy ; Prices ; Price policy ; Water conservation ; Rural areas ; Urban areas / China / Zhengzhou City
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H042051)
(0.28 MB)
5 Villholth, Karen G.; Jeyakumar, P.; Amerasinghe, Priyanie.; Manamperi, Sanjeewa P.; Vithanage, M.; Goswami, R. R.; Panabokke, C. R. 2011. Tsunami impacts and rehabilitation of groundwater supply: lessons learned from eastern Sri Lanka. A case study. In Vrba, J.; Verhagen, B. T. (Eds.). Groundwater for emergency situations: a methodological guide. [Report of the UNESCO IHP Groundwater for Emergency Situations’ (GWES) Project]. Paris, France: UNESCO. International Hydrological Programme (IHP) pp.296-308. (UNESCO IHP-VII Series on Groundwater No. 3)
Natural disasters ; Disaster preparedness ; Tsunamis ; Rehabilitation ; Monitoring ; Saline water ; Water purification ; Flooding ; Groundwater ; Wells ; Drinking water ; Water quality ; Water supply ; Water use ; Case studies ; Pumps ; Surveys / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044406)
(17.39 MB) (17.4MB)
The purpose of this case study is to describe the importance of groundwater for secure emergency water resource after the huge Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) earthquake which occurred in 1995. Around 1,270,000 households were cut off from municipal water supply after the earthquake and medical activities in many hospitals were seriously affected by water scarcity. However, it was possible to pump groundwater from several wells immediately after the earthquake. Resistance of wells against the impact of earthquakes has been noted and registration system of citizen’s wells has been established in 1996 in Kobe. Within next two years 517 suitable emergency wells were registered and their location entered on maps. Based on the Kobe experience similar emergency water well systems have been established by many municipal and local governments in Japan to be used as a safe source of water in emergency. In some hospitals deep wells have been drilled, equipped with pumps and diesel driven generators and are prepared for immediate use in an emergency situation.
6 Pavelic, Paul; Smakhtin, Vladimir; Favreau, G.; Villholth, Karen G.. 2012. Water-balance approach for assessing potential for smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Water SA, 38(3): 399-406. (Special edition on International Conference on Groundwater). [doi: https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v38i3.5]
Water balance ; Groundwater irrigation ; Resource depletion ; Smallholders ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Case studies / Ghana / Burkina Faso / South-western Niger / Atankwidi River basin / Iullemmeden Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044995)
(0.50 MB)
Strategies for increasing the development and use of groundwater for agriculture over much of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are urgently needed. Expansion of small-scale groundwater irrigation offers an attractive option to smallholder farmers to overcome unreliable wet-season rainfall and enhance dry-season production. This paper presents a simple, generic groundwater-balance-based methodology that uses a set of type-curves to assist with decision making on the scope for developing sustainable groundwater irrigation supplies, and to help understand how cropping choices influence the potential areal extent of irrigation. Guidance to avoid over-exploitation of the resource is also provided. The methodology is applied to 2 sites in West Africa with contrasting climatic and subsurface conditions. At both sites the analysis reveals that there is significant potential for further groundwater development for irrigation whilst allowing provisions for other sectoral uses, including basic human needs and the environment.
7 Vithanage, Meththika; Engesgaard, P.; Villholth, Karen G.; Jensen, K. H. 2011. The effects of the 2004 tsunami on a coastal aquifer in Sri Lanka. Ground Water, 50(5):704-714. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2011.00893.x]
Tsunamis ; Coastal area ; Aquifers ; Groundwater ; Water table ; Models ; Salt water intrusion ; Hydraulic conductivity / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045001)
(1.27 MB)
On December 26, 2004, the earthquake off the southern coast of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean generated far-reaching tsunami waves, resulting in severe disruption of the coastal aquifers in many countries of the region. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the tsunami on groundwater in coastal areas. Field investigations on the east coast of Sri Lanka were carried out along a transect located perpendicular to the coastline on a 2.4 km wide sand stretch bounded by the sea and a lagoon. Measurements of groundwater table elevation and electrical conductivity (EC) of the groundwater were carried out monthly from October 2005 to August 2007. The aquifer system and tsunami saltwater intrusion were modeled using the variable-density flow and solute transport code HST3D to understand the tsunami plume behavior and estimate the aquifer recovery time. EC values reduced as a result of the monsoonal rainfall following the tsunami with a decline in reduction rate during the dry season. The upper part of the saturated zone (down to 2.5 m) returned to freshwater conditions (EC < 1000 µS/cm) 1 to 1.5 years after the tsunami, according to field observations. On the basis of model simulations, it may take more than 15 years for the entire aquifer (down to 28 m) to recover completely, although the top 6 m of the aquifer may become fresh in about 5 years.
8 Shu, Yunqiao; Villholth, Karen G.. 2012. Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania. Paper presented at the 16th SANCIAHS National Hydrology Symposium, Pretoria, South Africa, 1-3 October 2012. 13p.
Hydrology ; Water resources ; Water management ; Catchment areas ; Flow discharge ; Stream flow ; Evapotranspiration ; Groundwater recharge ; Climate change / Tanzania / Usangu Catchment
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045582)
http://www.ru.ac.za/static/institutes/iwr/SANCIAHS/2012/documents/047_Shu.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045582.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045582.pdf
(0.69 MB) (735.37KB)
Perceived increased water scarcity in the Usangu catchment, Tanzania has raised social conflict that requires proper water management. Proper management of water resources requires understanding long-term trends of hydrological change. Information of baseflow is critical in the assessment of changes as it is the main contributor to stream flow in the dry season, while also indicating potential shifts in flow pathways in a catchment, including that of groundwater. Three upper perennial tributaries as well as a lower main channel downstream of the Usangu catchment were analysed in this study. The recursive digital filter (RDF) method was used to quantify baseflow with monthly stream flow records. Baseflow decline over the 50-year period (1960–2009) was a generally observed phenomenon across the catchment in all the streams investigated. A significant downward sloping change point was detected in 1989/1990. Total stream flows also decreased for the western part (because baseflow constituted a major share), whereas total stream flows did not change for the eastern and lower section. These phenomena may be partially explained by climate factors (including rainfall and potential evapotranspiration (ET)) as well as human activities (e.g. deforestation, irrigation, and groundwater abstraction) taking place in the lower as well as upper parts of the catchment.
9 Villholth, Karen G.; Tottrup, C.; Stendel, M.; Maherry, A. 2013. Integrated mapping of groundwater drought risk in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region. Hydrogeology Journal, 21(4):863-885. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-0968-1]
Groundwater resources ; Water demand ; Drought ; Risk assessment ; Mapping ; GIS ; Climate change ; Data ; Aquifers ; Sensitivity analysis / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045812)
(2.29 MB)
Groundwater drought denotes the condition and hazard during a prolonged meteorological drought when groundwater resources decline and become unavailable or inaccessible for human use. Groundwater drought risk refers to the combined physical risk and human vulnerability associated with diminished groundwater availability and access during drought. An integrated management support tool, GRiMMS, is presented, for the mapping and assessment of relative groundwater drought risk in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Based on composite mapping analysis of regionwide gridded relative indices of meteorological drought risk, hydrogeological drought proneness and human groundwater drought vulnerability, the mapping results highlight consistent areas across the region with highest groundwater drought risk and populations in the order of 39 million at risk of groundwater drought at present. Projective climate-model results suggest a potentially significant negative impact of climate change on groundwater drought risk. The tool provides a means for further attention to the key, but neglected, role of groundwater in drought management in Africa.
10 Villholth, Karen G.. 2007. Tsunami impacts on groundwater and water supply in eastern Sri Lanka. Waterlines, 26(1):8-11. [doi: https://doi.org/10.3362/0262-8104.2007.033]
Tsunami ; Groundwater ; Water supply ; Drinking water ; Salinity ; Wells ; Households ; Surveys / Sri Lanka / Eastern Province
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045929)
(0.49 MB)
Most households in the districts of Sri Lanka affected by the tsunami possessed drinking water wells, and these wells were contaminated by debris, sludge and saltwater. Once the wells were cleaned, only time and the onset of monsoon rains could reduce the levels of salinity – but local people continued to need information and reassurance about the quality of their water supplies.
11 Villholth, Karen G.; Ganeshamoorthy, G.; Rundblad, C. M.; Knudsen, T. S. 2013. Smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: an interdisciplinary framework applied to the Usangu Plains, Tanzania. Hydrogeology Journal, 21(7):1481-1495. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1016-x]
Groundwater irrigation ; Groundwater development ; Smallholders ; Plains ; Socioeconomic environment ; Irrigated farming ; Farmland ; Water drilling ; Pumps ; Poverty ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Policy / Sub-Saharan Africa / Tanzania / Usangu Plains
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045947)
(0.49 MB)
A simple but comprehensive framework for analysing the potential for and constraints to groundwater development for irrigated agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is proposed. The framework, based on food value chain principles, is applied to the sub-Saharan context and a specific catchment in Tanzania, the Usangu plains, where groundwater has been proposed as a strategic resource for augmenting food production and smallholder livelihoods and to alleviate seasonal water scarcity. The novel contribution of the work is the presentation of a tool that can be applied to support an interdisciplinary approach to systematically identify most significant barriers and most critical water management and development interventions for sustainable development of groundwater irrigation. The result of the case study shows that farmer economics, capacity, and pump and well drilling market constraints limit groundwater irrigation in the Usangu plains rather than hydrogeological conditions.
12 Altchenko, Yvan; Villholth, Karen G.. 2013. Transboundary aquifer mapping and management in Africa: a harmonised approach. Hydrogeology Journal, 21(7):1497-1517. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1002-3]
Aquifers ; Mapping ; Groundwater management ; International waters ; River basins ; Lakes ; Legal aspects ; Corporate culture / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045995)
(0.79 MB)
Recent attention to transboundary aquifers (TBAs) in Africa reflects the growing importance of these resources for development in the continent. However, relatively little research on these aquifers and their best management strategies has been published. This report recapitulates progress on mapping and management frameworks for TBAs in Africa. The world map on transboundary aquifers presented at the 6th World Water Forum in 2012 identified 71 TBA systems in Africa. This report presents an updated African TBA map including 80 shared aquifers and aquifer systems superimposed on 63 international river basins. Furthermore, it proposes a new nomenclature for the mapping based on three sub-regions, reflecting the leading regional development communities. The map shows that TBAs represent approximately 42 % of the continental area and 30 % of the population. Finally, a brief review of current international law, specific bi- or multilateral treaties, and TBA management practice in Africa reveals little documented international conflicts over TBAs. The existing or upcoming international river and lake basin organisations offer a harmonised institutional base for TBA management while alternative or supportive models involving the regional development communities are also required. The proposed map and geographical classification scheme for TBAs facilitates identification of options for joint institutional setups.
13 Pavelic, Paul; Villholth, Karen G.; Shu, Yunqiao; Rebelo, Lisa-Maria; Smakhtin, Vladimir. 2013. Smallholder groundwater irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: country-level estimates of development potential. Water International, 38(4):392-407. (Special issue on "Sustainable groundwater development for improved livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa, Part 1" with contributions by IWMI authors). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2013.819601]
Groundwater resources ; Groundwater irrigation ; Groundwater recharge ; Irrigation development ; Irrigated sites ; Smallholders ; Water balance ; Water demand ; Water use ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Environmental effects / Sub-Saharan Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H046052)
(0.32 MB)
The abundance of groundwater resources of Sub-Saharan Africa is generally well recognized, but quantitative estimates of their potential for irrigation development are lacking. This study derives estimates using a simple and generic water balance approach and data from secondary sources for 13 countries. Even with conservative assumptions and accounting for water demands from other sectors, including the environment, a 120-fold increase (by 13.5 million hectares) in the area under groundwater irrigation is possible for the countries considered. This expansion could improve the livelihoods of approximately 40% of the present-day rural population.
14 Pavelic, Paul; Villholth, Karen G.; Verma, Shilp. 2013. Identifying the barriers and pathways forward for expanding the use of groundwater for irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Water International, 38(4):363-368. (Special issue on "Sustainable groundwater development for improved livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa, Part 1" with contributions by IWMI authors). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2013.821643]
Groundwater resources ; Groundwater irrigation ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Irrigated farming ; Pumps ; Investment / Sub-Saharan Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H046062)
(0.09 MB)
15 Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria; Villholth, Karen G.; Hanjra, Munir A.; Yirga, M.; Namara, Regassa E. 2013. Cost-benefit analysis and ideas for cost sharing of groundwater irrigation: evidence from north-eastern Ethiopia. Water International, 38(6):852-863. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2014.847006]
Groundwater irrigation ; Groundwater development ; Cost benefit analysis ; Wells ; Investment ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Sensitivity analysis / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H046202)
(0.23 MB)
The government of Ethiopia has invested in groundwater development for smallholder irrigation in the Raya Valley and Kobo Valley, north-eastern Ethiopia, where the hydrogeological potential is large but not fully developed. A cost-benefit analysis shows that investment in deep groundwater irrigation development is viable at a 9.5% discount rate in 75% of the wells. Assuming full cost recovery of capital investment, the annual payment rates (annuity) that irrigation users should pay over the wells’ service life (25 years) were estimated. It is recommended that future investment be based on cost sharing rather than full cost recovery to facilitate uptake and address financial realities.
16 Pavelic, Paul; Villholth, Karen G.; Verma, Shilp. (Eds.) 2013. Sustainable groundwater development for improved livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa. Part 1. Water International, 38(4):363-503. (Special issue with contributions by IWMI authors).
Groundwater development ; Groundwater irrigation ; Groundwater recharge ; Living standards ; Sustainability ; Small scale systems ; Smallholders ; Evapotranspiration ; Dry season ; Pumps ; Hydrogeology ; Water quality / Sub-Saharan Africa / Ghana / Niger / Ethiopia / Zambia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H046254)
17 Pavelic, Paul; Villholth, Karen G.; Verma, Shilp. (Eds.) 2013. Sustainable groundwater development for improved livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa. Part 2. Water International, 38(6):790-863. (Special issue with contributions by IWMI authors).
Groundwater development ; Groundwater irrigation ; Living standards ; Sustainability ; Pumps ; Smallholders ; Water user associations ; Poverty ; Gender ; Cost benefit analysis / Sub-Saharan Africa / Ghana / Ethiopia / Zambia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: PER Record No: H046255)
18 Villholth, Karen G.. 2013. Integrated groundwater use and management in vulnerable coastal zones of Asia-Pacific. In Wetzelhuetter, C. (Ed.). Groundwater in the coastal zones of Asia-Pacific. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. pp.317-342. (Coastal Research Library Volume 7)
Groundwater ; Water use ; Water management ; Water quality ; Water resources ; Coastal area ; Salt water intrusion ; Deltas ; Aquifers ; Wells ; Suburban areas ; Rural areas / Asia Pacific / Thailand
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: 551.457 G570 WET Record No: H046285)
(1.36 MB)
Groundwater in coastal zones around the globe is a critical asset in securing water, food and general development for millions of people. Particularly, in the Asia-Pacific region, such resources are significantly depended on in rural as well as urban areas for a wide range of uses, often as the only water source, which is exemplified by small island states. Present and future stresses on these significant, but often vulnerable systems, from human development, urbanization, climate change, and extreme events call for better understanding and awareness of these resources, their protection and best management approaches. The present chapter deals with the current level of knowledge of coastal groundwater systems in continental and island settings in the Asia-Pacific, their uses, vulnerabilities and hazards from various sources. The objective of the paper is to propose through an integrated framework approach how sustainable and resilient groundwater management can be promoted and enhanced. The work is partially based on the case of the tsunami in eastern Sri Lanka and the immense challenges but also opportunities it entailed for local and higher level groundwater management.
19 Villholth, Karen G.. 2013. Challenges of groundwater management in Sri Lanka. In International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Proceedings of the National Seminar on Groundwater Governance in Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 15 August 2013. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) pp.67-80.
Groundwater management ; Water resources ; Surface water ; Aquifers ; Monitoring ; Research / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046402)
(0.4 MB)
20 Altchenko, Yvan; Villholth, Karen G.. 2014. Mapping irrigation potential from renewable groundwater in Africa – a quantitative hydrological approach. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, 11(6):6065-6097.
Groundwater irrigation ; Groundwater recharge ; Water demand ; Water availability ; Water requirements ; Irrigation efficiency ; Water use ; Hydrology ; Environmental effects ; Farmland ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Living standards / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046504)
http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/11/6065/2014/hessd-11-6065-2014-print.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H046504.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H046504.pdf
(1.30 MB) (1.30 MB)
Groundwater provides an important buffer to climate variability in Africa. Yet groundwater irrigation contributes only a relatively little share of cultivated land, approximately 1% (about 2 million hectares) as compared to 14% in Asia. While groundwater is over-exploited for irrigation in many parts in Asia, previous assessments indicate an under-utilized potential in parts of Africa. As opposed to previous country-based estimates, this paper derives a continent-wide, distributed (0.5° spatial resolution) map of groundwater irrigation potential, indicated in terms of fractions of cropland potentially irrigable with renewable groundwater. The method builds on an annual groundwater balance approach using 41 years of data, allocating only that fraction of groundwater recharge that is in excess after satisfying other human needs and environmental requirements, while disregarding any socio-economic and physical constraints in access to the resource. Due to high uncertainty of groundwater environmental needs, three scenarios, leaving 30, 50 and 70% of recharge for the environment, were implemented. Current dominating crops and cropping rotations and associated irrigation requirements in a zonal approach were applied in order to convert recharge excess to potential irrigated cropland. Results show an inhomogeneously distributed groundwater irrigation potential across the continent, even within individual countries, reflecting recharge patterns and presence or absence of cultivated cropland. Results further show that average annual groundwater available for irrigation ranges from 692 to 1644 km3 depending on scenario. The total area of cropland irrigable with groundwater ranges from 27.2 to 64.3 million ha, corresponding to 12.5 to 29.6% of the cropland over the continent. The map is a first assessment that needs to be complimented with assessment of other factors, e.g. hydrogeological conditions, groundwater accessibility, soils, and socio-economic factors as well as more local assessments.
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