An investigation into the status of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) schemes in southern Africa is currently underway to ensure that groundwater resources and river baseflows are not only prioritised in water policies and regulations, but also fully integrated into existing water management frameworks. This 18-month Water Research Commission-funded research project is being implemented by the CSIR in partnership with Stellenbosch University, Groundwater Africa, independent consultants and students from the University of the Western Cape, University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University.
The research team is focusing on examining MAR policy implementation practices and regionally integrated schemes in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, the Comoros, Kenya and Angola, with the aim of enhancing freshwater supply and managing demand in water-scarce countries.
Project results reveal that MAR schemes in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Kenya face several obstacles that limit effective governance of groundwater replenishment. Key implementation challenges include weak enforcement, poor cross-sector coordination and insufficient capacity at the local level to manage aquifer recharge effectively.
“All participating countries may have policies in place, but the implementation is often compromised by factors such as climate variability, limited data availability and undefined water sources,” says CSIR senior researcher Nicolette Vermaak. “South Africa has a long history of MAR, with the oldest scheme dating back to 1952 in Loeriesfontein, while the Atlantis scheme has been operational for nearly 50 years.”
Despite this impressive 73-year record, MAR legislation remains underdeveloped in most of the countries included in the study, except for South Africa – which has the most established legal framework, and Namibia. “South Africa has 15 operational and 22 assessed schemes, while Namibia has two operational schemes, placing them among the countries with notable MAR initiatives,” she adds.
Most MAR schemes are developed in areas where there is a steady supply of surplus freshwater, such as during periods of high river flow. This water is used to supplement aquifers when streams and wetlands are at their lowest levels. Water can be captured from rivers either above or below ground and diverted through underground infrastructure to recharge sites for later use or environmental benefit. MAR therefore serves as an adaptive management intervention to store water and improve supply resilience during drier conditions helping to meet growing demand driven by population growth, food security needs and industrial development.
Placing a cap on freshwater and groundwater abstraction can protect the health and sustainability of these sources, replenish aquifers, prevent land subsidence, improve water quality, control seawater intrusion and support of groundwater-dependent ecosystems – a process often referred to as water banking.
“Unfortunately, recharged groundwater aquifers often do not feature prominently in the water management policy landscape. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, transboundary aquifers have received more attention and focus,” Vermaak says.
Key action-driven solutions, such as deploying niche methodologies, strengthening regulatory and policy frameworks, enhancing capacity and stakeholder frameworks and promoting knowledge sharing, are being put forward by the research team. Recommendations from the study encourage actions such as forming partnerships among Southern African Development Community countries, conducting an in-depth situational analysis of all countries, creating a dedicated framework, enhancing enforcement, strengthening institutions, promoting transboundary cooperation and aligning policies.
