Abstract
Theme unsuitability is noted to have inhibited the accuracy of groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) mapping approach, especially in a semi-arid environment where surface water supply is inadequate. This work, therefore presents a geoscience approach for mapping high-precision GWPZs peculiar to the semi-arid area, using Buffalo catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa, as a case study. Maps of surficial-lithology, lineament-density, drainage-density, rainfall-distribution, normalized-difference-vegetation-index, topographic-wetness-index, land use/land cover, and land-surface-temperature were produced. These were overlaid based on analytical hierarchical process weightage prioritization at a constituency ratio of 0.087. The model categorizes GWPZs into the good (187 km2), moderate (338 km2), fair (406 km2), poor (185 km2), and very poor (121 km2) zones. The model validation using borehole yield through on the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.901) and correlation (R = 0.949) indicates a significant replication of ground situation (p value < 0.001). The analysis corroboration shows that the groundwater is mainly hosted by a fractured aquifer where the GWPZs is either good (9.3 l/s) or moderate (5.5 l/s). The overall result indicates that the model approach is reliable and can be adopted for a reliable characterization of GWPZs in any semi-arid/arid environment.
Highlights
IntroductionThe water shortage is a global issue, owing to the nexus of water-food-energy and its influence on livelihood and global economics
Responsible Editor: Biswajeet PradhanThe water shortage is a global issue, owing to the nexus of water-food-energy and its influence on livelihood and global economics
In South Africa, the water shortage may persist for a longer time due to the rate of increase in population, urbanization, and industries, as well as the regional severity of aridity on water resources, which is further complicated by climate change (Owolabi et al 2020b)
Summary
The water shortage is a global issue, owing to the nexus of water-food-energy and its influence on livelihood and global economics. In South Africa, the water shortage may persist for a longer time due to the rate of increase in population, urbanization, and industries, as well as the regional severity of aridity on water resources, which is further complicated by climate change (Owolabi et al 2020b). Ad hoc effort towards water security has involved data gathering and evaluation, creation of impoundments and water infrastructures for water transfer schemes, water policies, optimization programs, and management measures (Schreiner and Hassan 2010). Water supply has been outmatched and this is impacting other vital organs of development in the country. The exploitation of groundwater resources as an alternative has not been harnessed as a result of limited knowledge on its development (Cobbing 2014).
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