SeeKaquA Workshop with the African project partners in Germany

The project SeeKaquA – Semi-Airborne Electromagnetic (SAEM) Exploration of Kalahari’s Aquifers, Africa combines hydrogeological with novel UAV-based SAEM geophysical exploration methods to improve the local understanding of deep aquifer systems in the Kalahari Basin with relevance for sustainable groundwater supply in the future. We held a productive project workshop (February 10-14) together with the African and German partners in Hanover. The consortium is now complete and we are glad to announce that two PhD students at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the University of Zambia (UNZA), respectively, who also participated in the workshop, can be supported in the framework of SeeKaquA. With their assistance, we were able to add additional research activities to the primary work plan, which will lead to an increased impact of the project in Southern Africa.

The major objectives of the workshop were to discuss the governing project goals, bring together the hydrogeological, geochemical and geophysical perspectives, organize the upcoming field work in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin (CEB, Namibia) and Machile-Zambesi Basin (MZB, Zambia), and distribute corresponding responsibilities amongst all partners. In order to answer important research questions from our African partners, we decided to demonstrate our methods at the following sites:

1. CEB: Investigate the separation of the KOH-I and KOH-II aquifers between Oshikunde and Okongo, the two systems presumably merge into one aquifer in this region. Evaluation of the distribution of geogenic groundwater contamination such as salinity, fluorine and vanadium and of groundwater age in the various aquifer compartments. Of further interest are the local distribution of shallower perched aquifers and a transition zone from fresh to saline water in central parts of the CEB.
2. MZB: Investigate potential freshwater resources underneath a saline aquifer (expected thickness 100-300m) in the central Machile Graben structure and the fault system at the western boundary of the graben.

Ground-based AMT and TEM geophysical measurement in the MZB will be conducted in April/Mai this year. They contribute to the exploration of potential fresh water resources in the central Machile Graben and provide valuable preliminary information to optimize the layout of the main measurement campaign in Zambia in 2026. The first measurement campaign at the CEB, including UAV-based SAEM-measurements and groundwater chemistry and isotope sampling, is scheduled to take place in August/September this year.

During our field campaigns, students from UNAM and UNZA as well as employees of the terratec company will be trained in the hydrogeological and geophysical field work and data analysis. In cooperation with the African partners and with support of WASAnet, we aim to organize Webinars to enable further knowledge transfer about methods relevant to groundwater exploration in the southern African region. The more detailed research plan supports engaging our partner SADC-GMI and the national ministries in our research activities and planning the dissemination on relevant events in Southern Africa.

More information on all seven projects can be found here and in the programme publication.