Abstract
The Black Volta basin is one of the most important basins in West Africa that provides support for water supply, irrigation, hydropower and recreation for the communities within this basin. The Tain River basin is a sub-basin within the Black Volta. Most communities within this basin depend on groundwater resources as their main source of water supply. However, the over-growing dependence and limited assessment of the availability of groundwater resources in quality and quantity in the basin have become a worrying factor towards the sustainable management of the resources. The study therefore assessed the quality and quantity of groundwater resources in the Tain River Basin and showed that the total permanent groundwater reserve is estimated as 6.89 x 10 7 m 3 while the total recoverable groundwater as 2.59 x 10 7 m 3 . The total recoverable groundwater forms 38 % of the total permanent groundwater reserve and this is the water available for abstraction and recharging of streams and springs. Both the quality and quantity of groundwater in the basin were found to be adequate according to national standards and World Health Organisation guideline values.
Highlights
Water is an essential natural resource that sustains the life of man and all living things on earth
The Tain River basin is a sub-basin within the Black Volta
Sc = specific capacity (l/min/m); Q = discharge in (l/mm); s = Drawdown (m) = Dynamic water level (DWL) – Static water level (SWL); Fifty eight (58) boreholes were selected based on the geological formations within the basin and their pumping test data analysed
Summary
Water is an essential natural resource that sustains the life of man and all living things on earth. There is increasing competition globally on the scarce water resources, especially surface water due to rapid population growth, urbanization and technological advancement. Current global climate change processes are expected to affect both the spatial and temporal available water resources (Arnellet al., 2011; Oki & Kanae, 2006; Reddad et al, 2013; Walther et al, 2002). The lack of access to potable water negatively impacts health, girl-child right to education in developing countries, and availability of water for agriculture. These collectively affect a country’s urge to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (Bakker, 2007; World Water Council, 2006)
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