WARMA URGES STAKEHOLDERS TO JOIN HANDS TO CONVERSE GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.

The Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has called upon its cooperating partners and the general public to join hands to converse groundwater resources in the country.

In a statement today, WARMA Senior Public Relations and Communications Officer Smart Kalaluka said the general public is cautioned against encroaching on water resource-sensitive areas such as recharge areas, well fields, springs, dumbos, wetlands and commercial boreholes meant for water supply.

And Mr. Kalaluka noted that members of the public should desist from building or erecting structures on groundwater recharge zones and ecologically sensitive areas.

He explained that due to the increased demand for borehole drilling caused by reduced surface water availability, Government is urging members of the public to ensure proper siting before drilling to avoid hitting dry boreholes.

Mr. Kalaluka further stated that sitting and drilling of boreholes should be deep and sited in groundwater aquifers in the range of 80 to 120 meters and way past the groundwater table is recommended to ensure continued supply from the boreholes.

He said in areas where the groundwater table has dropped such as in Southern Province, Western Province, Eastern Province and parts of Lusaka Province, it is advisable that owners of pre-existing boreholes re-adjust their pump installation depths to deeper levels where possible, to continue accessing water.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kalaluka said advised members of the public to report drillers who engage in substandard drilling works to the Authority for possible sanctioning and enforcement of corrective measures.

He added that those wanting to drill boreholes must always obtain permission from WARMA.

Mr. Kalaluka further noted that consumers with boreholes that are not registered with the Authority should register because the exercise is free.

He revealed that government through WARMA is monitoring the drillers and has since compelled all drillers to install Global Positioning Systems (GPSs) on drilling rigs to curtail illegal drilling.