Development of a SADC Framework for Groundwater Data Collection & Management. Geert-Jan Nijsten (IGRAC) Modreck Gomo (IGS/UFS), Arnaud Sterckx (IGRAC), Eelco Lukas (IGS/UFS)

Context SADC-GMI project: Capacity building in Groundwater Data Collection and Management in SADC Member States: Assessment and gap analyses Engagement and training of young professionals SADC- Groundwater Information Portal Small pilot activity Implementers: IGRAC & IGS

Context: Project overview Literature review Country visits YP1 Assignment YP2 Assignments Training workshop 1 for YPs Training workshop 2 for YPs Workshop for Senior staff Gap Analyses SADC GIP-portal www,gip.sadc-gmi.org Pilot

Rationale for gw data framework – from GAP analysis “In one way or the other all SADC Member States visited, reported a lack of budget & staff and inabilities to meet their monitoring objectives, be it in: The number of boreholes actually being monitored, Frequency of monitoring, Parameters being monitored, Data storage and it’s usage, Data analysis and interpretation” + MENTION: Reported lack of analysis of available data. Which means that we need to come out of a vicious cycle where groundwater monitoring becomes more and more erratic. If we as hydrogeologists are not able to prevent clear policy advice or guidance based on the groundwater monitoring data, then it will become increasingly more difficult to gets budget for staff and equipment!

Objectives for framework This SADC-wide Framework aims to: assist Member States in developing adequate groundwater data collection & management procedures at the national level that match their current (financial and human) capacity.   foster harmonization across the Member States which will allow for easier exchange of data and information between the Member States and thereby: regional groundwater analyses and facilitate transboundary cooperation.

What does it want to become What will it be Guidelines and concepts for realistic, efficient and innovative data collection and management, including the sharing of data. What does it want to become Scrutinised, Improved, Implemented & USED!

Example: Different Monitoring objectives: Different observation points

Source: Tuinhof et al. (2006): GWMATE Briefing Note 9

Primary National monitoring networks

Primary National monitoring networks

Secondary / Tertiary monitoring

Secondary / Tertiary monitoring

Primary SADC-wide monitoring

TBA monitoring

TBA monitoring

Monitoring summarised Differentiate between different monitoring purposes:. E.g: Primary: National reference monitoring Secondary: Protection monitoring Tertiary: Pollution containment SADC-wide reference monitoring TBA monitoring BUT be efficient: One observation point can serve multiple monitoring networks AND: Don’t bite of more than you can chew

Smart sharing of data Modern technologies in data sharing: Open Geospatial Consortium Standards Web Mapping Services (WMS) Web Feature Services (WFS) Water Markup Language (WaterML) TimeSeriesML (TSML)

Smart sharing of data Viewing data not copying! RBO database National database country X National database country Y TBA viewer SADC-GIP viewer

Smart sharing of data summarised Do not copy datasets from one database to another. It is a recipe for disaster. Keep responsibilities where they belong & Make use of 21st century technology to give viewing access for data to the relevant institutions & levels.

Quality of data Field forms and procedures Simple quality control procedures Database consistency (e.g. unique bh- numbering)

MAKE USE OF THE DATA Analyse Interpret Develop fact based and implementable policy advice!

Recommendations GAP analysis ... “Irrespective of the limitations in terms of funds, equipment and human capacity, it is important to exploit and make best use of the (small) available resources.” … + MENTION: Reported lack of analysis of available data. Which means that we need to come out of a vicious cycle where groundwater monitoring becomes more and more erratic. If we as hydrogeologists are not able to prevent clear policy advice or guidance based on the groundwater monitoring data, then it will become increasingly more difficult to gets budget for staff and equipment!

Groundwater monitoring … Low budget and capacity  Poor data  No interpretations  No policy guidance  Less budget  Several presentations, including Alan Mc Donald in his key not speech highlighted the need to keep on monitoring groundwater, and I couldn’t agree more. The importance of monitoring is clear to hydrogeologists . BUT: If we, as hydrogeologists, are not able to provide clear policy advice or guidance based on the groundwater monitoring data, then it will become increasingly more difficult to gets budget for staff and equipment for long term groundwater monitoring! This situation made us think what we can contribute from our project to get out of this vicious circle. In our training workshops we are addressing some of these elements in more detail: in particular routines to ensure collecting of good quality data and also training in some methods and tools for interpretations. However we also wanted to look at this vicious cycle in a more holistic way. This led us to the development of the pilot

Framework outline Introduction Lessons from the gap analysis provisional outline Introduction Lessons from the gap analysis Review of similar frameworks and already available materials Objectives for the SADC-wide framework Framework Guidelines for developing, and implementing effective and efficient groundwater data collection / monitoring programmes Procedures for collection of basic groundwater monitoring data Quality control procedures Aspects of data management and sharing Translation of data into information Route map for implementation of the framework Annex: Checklist to self-assess the collection and management of groundwater data.

Meet the future! Geert-Jan Nijsten: geert-jan.nijsten@un-igrac.org Ms Lucenga (spelling? from RSA) and Phera Ramoeli referred to importance of youth capacity building and that the hope is on groundwater, Meet the future, who may possibly be implementing and executing the framework Geert-Jan Nijsten: geert-jan.nijsten@un-igrac.org Modreck Gomo: GomoM@ufs.ac.za Arnaud Sterckx: arnaud.sterckx@un-igrac.org Eelco Lukas: LukasE@ufs.ac.za

Panel discussion Groundwater Data Collection & Management in SADC Region Suggested topics for discussion: Lack of (access to) reliable groundwater data is not the only challenge in groundwater management. How important would you rank improving reliable groundwater data when comparing it to other challenges in sustainable groundwater management? What is the most important impediment when it comes to improving groundwater data collection & management in your country? Can a SADC-wide framework be instrumental to improve the situation & could this over time be formally adopted by the Member States (e.g. as an elaboration of the revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses in the SADC Community)? On the morning of the 1st day we have heard that South Africa has been evaluating its own national level monitoring of Transboundary aquifers. Ideally this kind of work gets raised to the truly transboundary level where member states sharing do such inventory together. We aim that the framework and the thinking behind such a framework can contribute to such initiatives.