As South Africa celebrates National Water Week from 20-26 March this year, it is important to recognise the country's growing reliance on groundwater - and how we must improve our management of this vital resource if it is to be sustainable.
Not many people are aware that South Africa's surface water resources - mainly rivers, dams, and lakes - make up just 3% of its available fresh water. The other 97% is contained in underground aquifers which are commonly accessed by boreholes.
According to Eunice Goossens, principal hydrogeologist at SRK Consulting, these aquifer systems are a vital water resource that feeds many rural areas and towns.
"As our population grows and pushes up water demand, there has been a trend to drill more boreholes and pump from aquifers to increase water supply," said Goossens.
"However, this is a process that is often not carefully controlled and monitored - presenting significant risks and inefficiencies that we can ill afford."
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