First-ever survey of underground water resources

Experts are aiming to tap Africa’s massive underground resources to tackle the continent’s water crisis, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

Geohydrologists from more than 20 countries have conducted the first ever continental survey of enormous underground water pools – known as aquifers - in Africa.

The team of experts met in Tripoli as part of a project by the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO). The scientists will create the first ever global map and inventory of the aquifers.

One huge aquifer – which could fill a pool the size of Germany several hundred metres deep – lies under the desert sands of Libya, Egypt, Chad and Sudan, a UNESCO press release said. The new African survey has uncovered about 20 trans-boundary aquifers, five of which have never been identified before.

“Like rivers, aquifers cross national borders and can be shared by two or more countries," the UNESCO statement said. “Unlike rivers, little is known about these shared or trans-boundary aquifers.

“Substantial investment and scientific expertise is required just to identify or map the boundaries of an aquifer before beginning to accurately assess the quantity and quality of water it contains.”

UNESCO – which named the project Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources (ISARM) - believes that if properly tapped, the water could help millions of people on the continent.

But, it says, major hurdles must be overcome before the resources can be tapped. Some governments are reluctant to admit to other countries they have huge water reservoirs. Furthermore, there are no laws to govern the shared water pools which can stretch for thousands of kilometres passing beneath several countries.

“This legal vacuum can generate considerable misunderstanding and tension,” the organisation said. It warned that countries could scramble to use as much water a possible fearing a more powerful neighbour might tap the resource.

“Trans-boundary aquifers are therefore potential 'hotspots' or sources of conflict, especially in arid regions where fierce competition for water resources will intensify in the future because of population growth and the expected impact of climate change,” UNESCO said.