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Groundwater Quality in Transboundary Aquifers (UNESCO, SDC)

GGRETA

Enroll in GGRETA03

About This Course

In Southern Africa, it is estimated that about 70% of the population is dependent on groundwater resources. However, this region has a rapidly expanding population especially in urban areas and is vulnerable to climate change and variability with a profound effect on the groundwater quantity and quality. Management of groundwater, therefore, cannot be overemphasized as countries, especially arid, explore to utilize transboundary aquifers for livelihoods. This course, therefore, aims to introduce the concepts and principles in groundwater quality. A strong effort will be made to provide case studies at a transboundary level of Southern Africa where available. The course will be in four modules, (a) Groundwater aquifers in Southern Africa, (b) Aquifer Characterization for Vulnerability, (c) Groundwater quality monitoring and management and (d) Groundwater quality governance.

The online learning course on Groundwater Quality in Transboundary Aquifers is part of the Governance of Groundwater Resources in Transboundary Aquifers (GGRETA) project Phase 3, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Learning Objectives

  • To expose learners on petro-physical properties that control aquifer productivity (including flow) and potential implications on groundwater quality;
  • To enable participants appreciate tools, methods and techniques to evaluate aquifer quality vulnerability;
  • To expose learners on monitoring and management approaches to sustain water quality;
  • To orient learners on governance options that can be used for managing groundwater quality.

Work Load

The course is comprised of 4 modules with a duration of 3 hours each. The course can be finalized in a total of 12 hours.

Meet the Course Instructors

Dr. Kawawa Banda

Dr. Kawawa Banda is an academic in the Department of Geology, School of Mines at the University of Zambia in Zambia. He holds a PhD degree in Environmental Engineering (with a strong focus on Hydrogeology), from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in Denmark, MSc (Integrated Water Resources Management) and a BSc (Geology) both from the University of Zambia. His research interests are in Hydrogeology, Remote Sensing, Environmental Geology and Water Resources Management with over ten years’ experience with several publications and consultancy in these fields. Dr Banda is a reviewer of several internationally accredited journals. .

Dr Kevin Pietersen

Dr Kevin Pietersen has 25+ years’ experience in the water, environment, geosciences, and energy sectors. He has extensive experience in exploration, development, and management of groundwater. He has worked on projects related to support for information systems, guidelines, decision support systems, prediction tools, technologies and methodologies that support protection of water resources and equitable allocation of water to meet the needs of the environment, social and economic development. He was the team leader for the recently completed Consultancy Services for Water Resources Management Research in the Eastern Kalahari Karoo Basin Transboundary Aquifer funded by the SADC-GMI. He has worked extensively throughout SADC-countries. He holds a PhD degree in Hydrogeology.

Professor Modreck Gomo

Professor Modreck Gomo has expertise and experience in a wider range of groundwater research and consulting aspects. He has consistently published in theoretical and experimental work on a variety of groundwater aspects with main purpose of improving groundwater site characterization techniques applied in the analysis of aquifer pumping tests, assessment of hydrogeochemical processes and their influence on groundwater quality. Professor Modreck Gomo currently working as a Geohydrologist Researcher at the Institute of Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State in South Africa. He is also serving as an Editorial Boarder Member for Sustainable Water Resources Management (SWAM) and Discover Water journals.

Dr Thokozani Kanyerere

Dr Thokozani Kanyerere is a Senior Lecturer at University of Western Cape where he teaches and conducts research related to groundwater management since 2013. He has 20 years’ experience in university academic and research work. He received his MSc from University of Malawi (2001) and MPhil from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway (2004) and obtained his PhD (2012) from University of Western Cape in South Africa where he assessed groundwater management practices for domestic use using IWRM approach. He is involved in direct and developmental applied research work from capacity building perspective. His research interests are in groundwater/surface-water interaction, aquifer characterization, groundwater recharge; groundwater management with a focus on quality which enabled him to coordinate academic and groundwater projects. His passion is on water education for capacity development. Dr Kanyerere is a reviewer of several peer-reviewed journals and institutes.

Prerequisites

None.

Learn more about this course & register

National Chairperson: Mr Fanus Fourie
Vice-Chairperson: Ms Nicolette Vermaak
National Treasurer: Mr Yazeed van Wyk
National Secretariat: Dr Jaco Nel
National Coordinator: Ms Elanda Schaffner

Please contact this Committee via [email protected]

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