Recharging aquifers for sustainable water management in Dzaleka Camp
Challenge
Dzaleka refugee camp’s water supply infrastructure is under pressure, leading to substandard levels of service. Groundwater over-abstraction, due to a high number of boreholes, drives aquifer depletion, spurred on by regional drought conditions and seasonal extreme weather events.
Solution
Working with refugees, members of the host community, and others to facilitate and measure groundwater recharge, by building low-cost wells and dams that control erosion, capture runoff for crop irrigation, and allow the gradual infiltration of rainwater back into aquifers. Real time monitoring technology and physical measurement of boreholes will monitor groundwater levels.
Impact
More sustainable groundwater abstraction by enabling the recharge of aquifers – used by both refugee and host communities – with rainwater runoff. The risk of soil erosion and flooding will be mitigated and livelihoods will be enhanced through irrigation dams for cash crops.