Conference
Brochure
Rationale
Groundwater
represents a major source of water for drinking and industrial
uses. It also contributes a considerable share to irrigated agriculture.
Although the primary focus of this Conference is Ethiopia, partners
from around the world are invited to present their cases and share
experiences for mutual benefits.
Over 70% of Ethiopia‘s drinking water comes from shallow
and deep Groundwater sources. The situation is similar in a number
of other countries. Yet, Groundwater Management - mapping, investigation,
development, administration, conservation, protection, control
& utilization - is not adequately developed.
In
Ethiopia and many other countries, Groundwater Development is
characterized by:
-
High cost of sinking wells (Cost is extremely high in Ethiopia);
- Unsatisfactory
well development and inadequate exploration;
- Selection
of wrong, and, sometimes, inappropriate technology;
- Lack
of appropriate institutional arrangements for Groundwater Management.
-
Where these arrangements exist, they usually do not address
the issues in a coherent & holistic manner; and
-
The fact that although Groundwater Development consumes large
resources, its sustainability is low. Therefore, the challenge
facing the water sector, (as far as Groundwater is concerned),
at this point in time is “How to develop and utilize Groundwater
that is affordable, efficient, effective, reliable & sustainable.”
Objectives
of the Conference
The
Conference will address relevant issues in the areas of mapping,
investigation, development, administration, conservation, protection
& utilization i.e. management of Groundwater resources to
improve effective use for drinking and in pursuit of meeting the
water supply targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The
main objectives are to:
- Share
ideas, experiences, new developments, and practices for Groundwater
Management (GWM) among sector practitioners;
-
Highlight the importance of Groundwater in socio-economic development
to Governments, the general public, the private sector, External
Support Agencies, NGOs;
- Identify,
address and discuss the problems associated with sustainable
GWM;
- Familiarize
all concerned stakeholders on latest technologies & products;
-
Promote the formation of coordination mechanisms for GWM at
national, regional & global levels;
-
Promote future information exchange and continued discussions
on GWM, through among others, networking and utilizing the opportunities
of the remarkable advances in digital and communications technology;
-
Possibly, initiate a Journal to be shared among professional
and trades-level associations in some countries.
Conference
thematic issues:
The
Conference will address the following thematic issues:
- Assessment,
inventory and mapping of Groundwater resource potentials and
development activities in Ethiopia;
-
Networking and information exchange on new Groundwater development
technologies and best practices.
-
Sustainable Groundwater management and preparedness to respond
to the looming regional droughts;
-
Implementation and monitoring guidelines and standards for the
development of Groundwater resources ;
-
Environmental and socioeconomic considerations in developing
Groundwater resources vis-à-vis increasing access to
water supply;
-
Institutional and legal aspects of Groundwater management and
administration;
- Participatory
management of Groundwater resources in Ethiopia;
-
The economics of Groundwater development and management;
-
Capacity building in Groundwater development and management.
Exhibition
The Conference provides exhibition opportunities to national/international
companies/suppliers and organizations that may want to showcase
their products and services. For further information, please read
the Conference
and Exhibition Manual
or call Wossen Mulatu at 251-1-444279 or Getachew Asmare at 251-1-443251
General
Information
Conference Secretariat
New millennnium Consulting Engineers
P.O.Box 7271, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: 251 1 407093/94/421914
Fax: 251 1 42 19 14
E-mail: Sahle@telecom.net.et,
Sahles2@hotmail.com
|
|
|
