Transboundary Aquifers - Can we fix it?

Interestingly, Eckstein (2011) states that internationally, TBA management experience is considerably poor. However, there is currently an increased push from both international donors in Africa and African countries to improve management. In recent years, the value associated with TBAs has been better understood. In areas where groundwater dependency is particularly high, new initiatives have been implemented to ensure the fair and sustainable use of this resource (Scheumann and Alker, 2009).

Furthermore, Altchenko and Villholth (2013) have identified 4 components relating to TBA management in Africa. These are:

1.     Identifying, delimiting and understanding TBAs

2.     Developing appropriate legal frameworks for their joint and sustainable management

3.     Developing appropriate institutional setups

4.     Ensuring that development and benefits from TBAs are inclusive and equitable

I feel that this is a pretty comprehensive list of factors that need to be acknowledged and worked on as a starting point to ensure efficient and helpful management.

What I find particularly interesting is the 1^st point. This suggests that in Africa, it is not fully understood what exactly a TBA is and how it actually works in terms of recharging and discharging capabilities. Without this very basic knowledge, it is impossible that TBAs are used sustainably and fairly.

I also found the 2^nd point interesting and so dug a little deeper. It appears that there are now a number of legal frameworks for transboundary water-resources management (TWM). Particularly, specialised agreements over groundwater provisions are drawn out which ensures that countries will face consequences should they over-extract from a shared resource (Eckstein, 2011; Burchi and Mechlem, 2005). Political factors also come into play here as policymakers took their time to finally pass and implement laws relating to shared groundwater usage. As such, this lead to a drawn out process for the implementation of TBA management (Cooley et al. 2009).

However, these legal frameworks are not entirely comprehensive and so the UN International Law Commission has partnered with various hydrogeological partners to gather their help in managing TBA use.

References:

Burchi, S. and Mechlem, K. (2005). Groundwater in international law. Rome: United Nations     Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Eckstein, G. (2011). Managing buried treasure across frontiers: the international Law of             Transboundary Aquifers. Water International, 36(5), pp.573-583.