Water Wheel Jan/Feb 2023: Water And Technology

Abstract

Cover feature App for hydrocensus and groundwater monitoring – A citizen science approach “You can’t manage what you don’t measure” is a common saying, but one that is increasingly relevant to South Africa’s groundwater resources. Once known as the country’s Cinderella of water resources, we are increasingly shining the spotlight on groundwater for potential water supply, especially when supplies run low. Cape Town’s close shave with Day Zero is a case in point. An estimated 30 000 boreholes were reportedly drilled in and around the Mother City during the 2016 to 2018 drought, but how much groundwater was abstracted, and the impact thereof, are largely unknown. The situation is not unique to the Western Cape. The national database for borehole information has progressively developed a backlog, and contains limited time series data, with serious consequences for future groundwater resource management. In a dry country such as South Africa, adequate information on the status and trends of groundwater resources is paramount for strategic development.

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