Abstract
The study was conducted in Lake Awassa catchment 275 km south of Addis Ababa to assess the problems that arise as a result of improper development and utilization of groundwater resources and to recommend management options by giving particular emphasis to investigate current status of groundwater structures and management practices. The hydrology of the basin was characterized by land use, soil, rainfall, temperature, evapotranspiration, wind speed, sunshine hours, relative humidity and runoff. In order to determine the basic hydrologic parameters, meteorological data was collected from the stations in and around the lake Awassa catchment. The amount of groundwater that is currently being used for domestic and non-domestic purposes in the basin is 17.8 million cubic meter. The net total amount of water that is actually available to recharge the groundwater circulation within the Lake Awassa catchment is 218.79 million cubic meter. Currently, 233 groundwater structures are found developed in different parts of the study area. Out of these 49 are non functional. Among the developed groundwater structures dominantly nonfunctional is hand dug wells, which comprises 29.55% of the total constructed hand dug wells. The hand dug wells are followed by shallow wells (25%), springs (19.75%) and boreholes (10%). Poor management of the constructed schemes, lack of awareness at community level, spare part problems, and construction problems are the major causes of the failure of the groundwater structures. Utilization of groundwater in the functional ones is not conducted on the basis of recommended values that were set based on the hydrogeological parameters during the development of the structures. Discharging hours are increased to satisfy the water demands of different users. Currently, groundwater is developed without groundwater management plan in uncoordinated manner by governmental and nongovernmental organizations and also privately.At present, the amount of natural recharge in the basin is more than the abstraction. The problem is not lack of water; it is rather absence of or poor management. This is mainly due to lack of efficient groundwater management organization at sub-basin level. Management of groundwater resources is crucial for better development and optimum utilization of the groundwater resources of the basin and to avoid any adverse effects. Therefore it is necessary to establish an efficient groundwater management organization that can conduct detailed groundwater management studies of the basin, follow the objectives of the national water resources management policy and also effectively implement. Keywords: Aquifer ; Ethiopia;Groundwater management; Hydrogeology;Lake Awsasa DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/75-02 Publication date: May 31 st 2021
Highlights
Groundwater is one of the earth's most widely distributed natural resources
The natural regulating reservoir of Lake Shalo has served as transitional impounding reservoir during rainy season and as the high flow recedes gradually the regulated water in the lake drains via Tikurwoha in such a way that stabilization in Lake Awassa maintained before the beginning of the transformation of Lake Shalo in to swampy area
According to the survey conducted in the study area, groundwater is mainly used for domestic and industrial purposes
Summary
Groundwater is one of the earth's most widely distributed natural resources. It has been a source of water supply since the dawn of recorded history. Many great economic developments have been made possible through the use of groundwater. Groundwater represents a major source of water for drinking and industrial uses. It contributes a considerable share to irrigated agriculture. It is a unique resource, widely available, providing security against droughts and yet closely linked to surface water resources and the hydrological cycle. Uniform quality and temperature, relative turbidity and pollution free, minimal evaporation losses, and low cost of development are attributes making groundwater more attractive when compared to surface water. At the same time population and economic growth have led to ever more demands on the groundwater resources and in many countries there are already significant impacts due to inadequately-regulated groundwater pumping and/or from pollution due to inadequate management
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