{"id":98144,"date":"2023-03-22T08:43:28","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T08:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?p=98144"},"modified":"2024-03-12T10:21:59","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T10:21:59","slug":"world-water-day-2023-groundwater-photo-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/world-water-day-2023-groundwater-photo-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"World Water Day 2023: groundwater photo stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This collection of photo stories celebrates the way groundwater development has benefited many people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Groundwater is fundamental to everyday life: spring water, wells and boreholes have provided safe drinking water and reliable water supplies for irrigation and industry for millennia. Today, half the world\u2019s population is estimated to use groundwater for drinking and a third of the world\u2019s irrigation comes from groundwater. However, the hidden nature of groundwater often means that its important role, both historically and in the present, is overlooked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By showcasing examples of groundwater use from around the world, we hope to encourage efforts to develop and manage groundwater sustainably and to protect the supplies of the most vulnerable. These photographs are the finalists from a competition run by the International Association of Hydrogeologists<\/a> and BGS for the UN Groundwater Summit<\/a> in December 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jatrabari, Bangladesh<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Abita and her friends are pleased to have a new, safe drinking water supply. Previously, the water supply was unreliable and unclean. They did not like to drink it. This new supply was installed in December 2021 and comprises several groundwater sources, which are treated and distributed to community wash facilities. For Abita, it has made her life much easier.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Habibul Haque, WaterAid<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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T\u00e9hini, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Women in the village of T\u00e9hini, in north-eastern C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, collecting water from a groundwater supply within their village. In C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, more than 30 per cent of people lack even basic water services and the poorest households are affected the most. However, this borehole is located very close to the women’s houses, meaning they can collect more water every day and don\u2019t have to carry it so far.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Samuel Kouakou.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Mompiano, Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n
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The Mompiano spring in Italy has been an urban water supply for 2000 years. The availability of abundant, good-quality groundwater helped society and surrounding settlements grow and prosper over millennia.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Tullia Bonomi, IAH Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Kachchh, India<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Agriculture in the arid region of Kachchh is only possible because of groundwater and production has increased markedly in the last two decades due to groundwater irrigation. The groundwater is pumped, aerated and filtered before being used to irrigate high-value horticulture.<\/p>\n

This photograph is dedicated to the photographers\u2019 grandfather, Mr Chhagan Mavji Patel, a farmer who was forced to migrate from this area due to drought during the 1950s. He encouraged young Praharsh to explore the groundwater and agriculture in their native region of Kachchh. More information<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Praharsh Patel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Nyiragiseke, Rwanda<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Students are dancing at Scholair Nyiragiseke in Rwanda to celebrate a new solar-powered groundwater supply to the school and health centre. The head teacher has noticed a marked increase in attendance and the school uses the clean water to provide school lunches. The students said they prefer to go to school now because clean water is closer at hand than at home.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Jacques Nkinzingabo, WaterAid<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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 Nigeria <\/h2>\n\n\n
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Over the last 30 years, manual drilling has become very popular in Nigeria, providing boreholes for households. The benefits for water users of having water in the house are obvious and it is important to acknowledge the hard work of the drillers. Drilling is their livelihood and is a flourishing business. It has been vital for the economy of Lagos and beyond.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Kirsten Danert, Ask for Water GmbH.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Mangochi, Malawi<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Children playing in the water from the flushing of a newly drilled borehole in Mangochi, Malawi. For a long time, people in this village had to walk to unsafe sources outside the village because it has been hard to find groundwater. This new, successful borehole will reduce collection time and improve the quality of the water.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Joseph Kanjirawaya.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Alxa Province, China<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Harvesting sunflower seeds and maize from the Alxa Province in Inner Mongolia.\u00a0 The area is entirely dependent on groundwater for irrigation around two oases, with the groundwater recharged from episodic high rainfall events. People have a thriving livelihood from small farms, supplying local and national markets with the farming community growing after the settlement of pastoralists. More information<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Brighid \u00d3 Dochartaigh, BGS\/UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Malta<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
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Malta relies heavily on groundwater from the island limestone aquifers for drinking, agriculture and industry. Fresh water sits as a lens above the denser salt water and pumping at a high rate from a borehole can draw in the saline water. To get around this problem in the mid-20th century, many kilometres of tunnels were constructed\u00a0 to skim off the fresh water without disturbing the saline water.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Andrew Newell, BGS\/UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Madagascar<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Aurelie Tafutasoe is a water kiosk manager serving her community with clean water. Although the small town is less than 50 km from the Madagascan capital, it is very rural and the kiosk is located in the centre of the market. People now don\u2019t need to collect from the old, unreliable sources and can buy safe groundwater for drinking when they visit the market.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Ernest Randriarimalala.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Zambia<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Large industrial farms in the copper belt in Zambia are irrigated using pivot irrigators relying on groundwater. The large, industrial-scale irrigation provides good-quality jobs and external revenue.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Dan Lapworth, BGS \/UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Madagascar<\/h2>\n\n\n
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An ingenious micro hydro-electric plant run from a groundwater spring in Madagascar. The electricity provided is used to power lights in a nearby house at the top of the slope.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Dan Lapworth, BGS\/UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Orvieto, Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Access to groundwater often improves people\u2019s safety and security. In the sixteenth century, the Pope took refuge in the town of Orvieto and, in order to ensure sufficient water supply in the event of a long siege, St Patrick\u2019s Well was constructed. The beautiful design incorporates a double helix, allowing donkeys to travel up and down without bumping into one another.<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Class 1A of the School Rol (S.Secondo di Pinerolo, Turin), IAH Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Segou region, Mali<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Miriam Sogoba is watering her market garden in the Segou region of Mali. This is part of a women\u2019s association of 45 women. As well as pumping the groundwater, they monitor the rainfall and groundwater levels to help manage the water sustainably. ‘Since I joined the market garden, the money I have gained from the sale of vegetables has helped so much \u2013 buying clothes for the children and helping me buy a sheep and a goat.’<\/p>\n

Image source: \u00a9 Basile Ouedraogo, WaterAid<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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More information<\/h2>\n\n\n
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