Round Table on Subsurface Water Storage

Especially Namibia, the driest country in Sub-Saharan Africa, is threatened by water shortage and the consequences of climate change. In many areas of the country, people have to face scarce water resources and an unpredictable water supply. To guarantee a long term sustainability of water supply integrated concepts are needed. CuveWaters is developing innovative and adapted solutions to sustainably supply people in the northern Cuvelai-Etosha Basin with water. In this context a round table on the technology line Subsurface Water Storage (SWS) will take place in Windhoek on the 26rd of July 2010.  

Subsurface Water Storage can be an alternative to the existing Earth Dams by minimizing evaporation rates and by providing water of better quality. The stored water can be used for multiple purposes, such as the irrigation of gardens or watering livestock.

On a first expert workshop in March 2010 different technology options for the implementation of Subsurface Water Storage were discussed, especially concerning their local adaptability and acceptance. This time it is planned to develop a detailed research concept for the forthcoming months regarding the three main fields of research: technology (1), geohydrology (2) and socio-economic questions. Invited are representatives of the water sector of Namibia, from the German development cooperation and different research units both from Namibia and Germany.  

Guidelines   

• SWS is considered for storage of flood water in areas without suitable perched aquifers
• SWS is independent of local groundwater and therefore does not interfere sweet or salt water aquifers
• The elements of SWS are supposed to be constructed from
• local or easy accessible materials
• Up to now there is no state of art documented for SWS
• Therefore a test is necessary to clarify the method, constructional elements and the boundary conditions of operation and maintenance