Protection, Management And Governance Of Groundwater Resources In Transboundary Aquifers – Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System (STAS) Case Study

The UNESCO-IHP initiated a project on “Governance of Groundwater Resources in Transboundary Aquifers” in 2013. Three aquifers were selected for case studies: Trifinio (Central America), Pretashkent (Central Asia), and the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System (STAS) in southern Africa shared between Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The project aimed to conduct a detailed assessment of the characteristics, current state and management of transboundary aquifers and to lay the foundations for a multi-country consultation body. It is expected that this will lead to enhanced water security, transboundary cooperation in groundwater management, and improved environmental sustainability in the aquifer region. Phase 1 of the project focused on desktop activities to acquire existing data and information with respect to three components: Hydrogeological, Socio-economic & Environmental, and Legal & Institutional. The integrated assessment determined that the recharge is taking place in Namibia during heavy rain periods, and that is where the resource is mostly used - Namibia (91.2%), Botswana (8.6%), South Africa (0.2%). Lack of time-series data made it difficult to determine aquifer properties. Groundwater quality is mainly impacted by agricultural activities and geological properties. The STAS area depends mainly on groundwater since the rivers are ephemeral. The Information Management System was developed in order to encourage information sharing among countries and to store interpreted and processed data from the assessment of the groundwater resources for use as a tool to support decision makers and relevant stakeholders’ actions. Water Diplomacy training offered involves hydro-politics of water to support cooperative agreements and increasing institutional capacity of sharing countries to reduce conflict and enhance cooperation over shared resources. This formed basis for the development of a Multi-Country Consultation Mechanism, a body that will provide the vision and direction towards governance and sustainable management of the STAS. The project is on-going with Phase 2 expected outcomes including numerical model, among other outcomes, using FREEWAT which is openly available. It is anticipated that ultimately, a joint governance model shall have been drawn amongst the three countries to ensure a mutually sustainable resource management.