Enhancing groundwater recharge in the main Karoo, South Africa during periods of drought through managed aquifer recharge

Abstract

This article reviews three managed aquifer recharge (MAR) sites in the Great Karoo, Northern Cape province of South Africa. The Karoo has limited surface water resources, and groundwater resources are therefore targeted for water supply. MAR systems show unique potential to reduce water scarcity in this area and to mitigate the impacts of climate change. MAR systems have been supporting groundwater supply to the communities in the Karoo since 2014, when a crippling drought has hit this area. In this article, we describe how drought affects the groundwater resources in the Karoo. We also assess the effectiveness of the operations of the three MAR systems to determine if these systems can be implemented at other sites around the Karoo, by considering chemistry and water level monitoring data for these three MAR systems. Small-scale MAR schemes are critical to climate change resilience when properly planned and managed.