ボツワナは他のアフリカ諸国同様地下水への依存度が高く、地下水管理の必要性がボツワナのローカル紙でも下記の通り取り上げられている。
ただし、IWRMを良く理解していない記者はIをinternationalと誤解したようだ。
ところで、水管理と言えば概ね表流水のイメージであるが、やはり地下水管理は重要である。アフリカなどではIWRMの中で地下水管理の取り組みが重要で、ガイドラインも作成されている。小生はここ何年か地下水の長期的適正揚水率の研究をしているが、表流水の安全利用率と合わせ評価する基準を模索している。これにつてはまた報告したい。
Ground water critical to economy
23 March, 2009
TSABONG - The Deputy Director in the Department of Water Affairs, Dr Thothi Obakeng says Botswana is heavily dependent on groundwater, given the limited surface water resources.
Speaking at the recent commemoration of World Water Day in Tsabong, Dr Obakeng said 80 per cent of the country's population was dependent on ground water.
He said most people were aware of the scarcity of water in the country especially in Kgalagadi which receives the least amount of rainfall ranging between 250mm to 300mm resulting in limited surface water and low recharge to ground water resources.
Dr Obakeng said ground water was vital to Botswana's economy and continued development adding that in most of the rural areas it may be the only available water resource that could be developed economically.
Despite the importance of ground water, he said aquifer recharge rates were low over large parts of the country. He said Tsabong had more than 2 900 private water connections and about five public standpipes.
However, he said as a result of practicing some water demand management measures, there were plans to demolish some public standpipes as these have proved to waste water.
Dr Obakeng added that one of the major aims of Vision 2016 is to change the way water is viewed by the users as well as how it is managed in order to ensure sustainability.
He said the Department of Water Affairs with the assistance from the UNDP/GEF and the Global Water Partnership has recently signed an agreement on a project to develop national water efficiency plans, adding that this will help in the uptake of International Water Resource Management (IWRM) by different stakeholders in water resource management.
He said it will further assist in creating a forum for stakeholders' participation and integrated planning.
Like any other sector, Dr Obakeng said the department is governed by laws for implementing their mandate adding that the responsibility of water lies with different government (both central and local) and parastatal bodies.
He said water resource management, planning and development takes place within the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources through the Department of Water Affairs, the Geological Surveys and the Water Utilities Corporation.
Dr Obakeng said local government does not play a direct role in the management of the resources and thus making them a recipient rather than a stakeholders or role players in water resources planning and management.
The granting and administration of water rights is currently the duty of the Water Appointment Board (WAB) that takes its powers from the Water Act of 1968 and the Department of Water Affairs as the Secretary and Registrar of WAB and also administers the Aquatic Weeds Control Act.
He said it is worth noting that working under different water authorities has been a challenge to the water sector adding that it is gratifying to note that the recently completed review of the National Water Master Plan (BNWP) has envisaged establishment of the water resources council and restructuring of the water sector for organisation service delivery which are part of the recommendations.
He said another new initiative that has emerged from the ministry is for the provision of water to whole catchment areas rather specific villages to improve efficiency and accessibility to portable water at all times.
The challenge however still lies with conservation of limited water that we have and maximising the retention of rain water so that we may sustain our water demand, he said. He said the ministry's conviction is that Botswana should be in the forefront for water conservation and also promote other non-conventional water sources such as rainwater harvesting, recycling and proper sanitation to conserve the limited water resources available from pollution. BOPA
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