Ethiopia plans to tap groundwater as climate defence

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Ethiopia plans to tap groundwater as climate defence

Famous as the source of the Blue Nile, which flows from Lake Tana in the Ethiopian highlands, this East African country is far less well-known for its promising groundwater potential.

But the Ethiopian government is now planning to tap into its largely unexploited groundwater resources, both to sustain a population of over 90 million - many of whom suffer from water shortages - and to alleviate the impacts of climate stresses.

The Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) hopes to increase potable water coverage to 98.5 percent of households nationwide by the end of next year, from 68.5 percent in 2013. And for that it will need new water supplies.

Scientists from the British Geological Survey and University College London estimated ina 2012 studyon Africa's underground water reserves that Ethiopia has groundwater storage of 12,700 km³, much less than some of its northern neighbours.

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