The benefits of a scientific approach to sustainable development of groundwater in Sub-Saharan Africa

With less than ten years to go before the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) falls due, there is an increasing urgency behind the supply of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to African countries. Although groundwater will form a substantial part of the water used in water supply schemes, particularly in rural areas, the resource is poorly understood in many parts of the continent. Careful and appropriate data collection during project implementation, together with data interpretation and knowledge dissemination can prevent past mistakes being repeated, and reduce the ultimate cost of water supply schemes both from a human and a financial point of view. Hydrogeologists are familiar with this argument, but are not always consulted when water supply schemes are planned. As funding agencies prepare to increase water supply and sanitation implementation in sub-Saharan Africa, it is vital that a scientific approach to groundwater development is more widely adopted, and incorporated at the planning stage of new projects.