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Scientists say there is actually a huge groundwater basin on an extremely arid African continent.

According to researchers, groundwater on the continent is 100 times more than surface waters.

The research team produced the most detailed map of groundwater in the region so far.

In the research published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, it was underlined that it would not be smart to dig for water.

More than 300 million people in Africa cannot access clean drinking water on a regular basis.

The need for water is expected to increase further with population growth in the coming years.

Africa water map

They cannot be used regularly as they carry and dry freshwater rivers and lakes on the continent seasonally.

This also lowers the continent’s agricultural potential.

Currently, only 5 percent of the arable land on the continent can be irrigated.

For the first time, scientists managed to make a detailed analysis of the mass of water hidden under the continent.

In England, scientists from University College London and British Geological Survey mapped the groundwater on the continent.

Helen Bonsor, one of the researchers, said groundwater was forgotten because it was invisible.

“I hope this research reminds people of the potential of groundwater,” Bonsor said.

Bonsor said that the largest groundwater reserve in Africa is in north Africa.

“There is a 75 meter thick water strip underground in this area,” the researcher said.

Africa’s thirst problem can be solved by groundwater.
Old formations

Due to the climate changes that caused the formation of the Sahara desert, the underground layer of water beneath the continent was filled 5 thousand years ago.

The researchers got the necessary information for their maps from the information collected from the public institutions of the countries in the region and from 283 studies conducted on groundwater previously.

Researchers say that many countries considered arid in the region are actually located on large water reserves.

However, scientists say that caution should be exercised in accessing these waters.

They think that digging many drilling wells can be harmful.

“The large boreholes should not be excavated before the location of the groundwater in the region is fully understood,” says researcher Dr Alan MacDonald.

“Smaller diameter drilling wells and hand pump driven wells to meet local needs will be more effective,” said MacDonald.

Scientists who say that most of the underground basins are not filled with water due to lack of rain think that very large drilling wells may cause these basins to be destroyed.

Helen Bonsor also thinks that slow moving may be more effective.

“In South Africa, we believe that groundwater is relatively limited, but with effective and planned use, the water contained here may be sufficient to solve the continent’s drought problem,” says Bonsor.

Scientists say that water reserves will be enough to cope with climate changes.

Dr Bonsor said, “ Every rain that falls even in semi-arid regions, where rain almost never rains, is stored in underground basins for 20 to 70 years. In other words, if these reserves are used only for drinking water or small-scale agricultural works, it may be enough for the region to cope with climate changes and drought. ”

Source: https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2012/04/120420_africa_water_resource