Research Finds Viable and Sustainable Water Sources in Namibia

University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

28 March 2022

New research from UWE geologists highlights how groundwater springs in arid countries can offer the potential to provide new water sources during dry seasons.

A research trip was undertaken by senior lecturer in Geology, Heike Wanke, and a team of researchers, to determine the state of water sources in Namibia. The country is often arid and has two distinct seasons: a wet season, and a dry one. During this dry period, water sources can deplete, and they will become more scarce as the climate crisis worsens. The quality and availability of water sources in Namibia and southern Africa can vary, and there are concerns about whether the water meets the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines for water safe for human consumption.

Wanke and his research team discovered that of the 35 springs tested, a large majority were safe to consume. 66% of the freshwater springs offered water safe for people to drink, yet the levels of chemicals in hot water springs were higher than the recommended safe levels. Wanke explains that this is important for communities in Namibia to note the safe freshwater resources. It is relatively inexpensive to set up infrastructures around existing fresh groundwater sources when compared to laying new pipes, so the wider community can access fresh drinking water.

Protecting and monitoring the water sources will prevent contamination, and suggestions for this have been laid out in Wanke’s paper. The proposed protection plan includes regular monitoring of the freshwater sources, as this “is an important element in the improvement of the quality and quantity of the drinking water supply.” Wanke also suggests work to raise public awareness of the vulnerability of these water sources, and education around livestock management processes that may threaten the safety of the waters.

Monitoring of the water sources was undertaken during the unseasonably dry months of 2019 and 2020 when Wanke and his team discovered that some of the springs “still showed flowing water, and only a few of them were dry.” This highlights the potential for water sources to survive as the planet heats up. The climate crisis is set to cause dry seasons and droughts to continue to worsen, but Wanke hopes that seeing the water sources on this research trip will mean that there is longevity in them.

“The water sources prevailing throughout unseasonable droughts offer a feeling of hope,” states Heike Wanke. “The people of Namibia can feel assured that they’ll have access to clean drinking water, despite the negative impacts of climate change.”

This research study was done during one trip to Namibia, due to the Coronavirus pandemic and concerns around contamination. The UWE research team were in southern Africa during an unseasonal drought, which they explained might, “have an impact on the value of the parameters and the spring discharge flow.” In order to better understand seasonal temperature changes and the variation in water levels, further research trips are required. However, the current research highlights viable water sources and holds promise for the future.

The full research paper can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073995