Design and development of a data system for the application of managed aquifer recharge in the Merti Aquifer

The IGAD Inland Water Resources Management Programme (IGAD-INWRMP) has awarded IGRAC and Acacia Water with a contract for the ‘Design and development of a data system for the application of Management for Aquifer Recharge (MAR) in the Horn of Africa (HoA)’. The overall emphasis of the project is to identify and map the potential for different MAR applications within the transboundary Merti Aquifer, shared between Kenya and Somalia, and the development of a MAR data management system. This study also considers the “first” stages for coupling climate modelling with land surface data to support the rainfall outlook and MAR data system. The objectives of the study is to show the potential of critical groundwater zones for current and future water supply, and the potential of MAR to strengthen this resource.

This technical report describes the methodology and background information that was used to deliver the groundwater and MAR potential map for the Merti area. The maps indicate the areas where seasonal runoff and river water is available and where shallow groundwater is likely to be present or can be created. Precipitation data, land surface characteristics and climate change scenarios were coupled to obtain a rainfall-runoff model. Based on the project results recommendations are given on the potential for different MAR applications within in the Merti aquifer.