Groundwater in Ethiopia

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This book offers a thorough examination of groundwater resources in Ethiopia, exploring its environmental functions and socioeconomics. Previous knowledge, based on geological frameworks established nearly four decades ago, has been significantly updated through extensive geoscientific research since the 1970s. Key advancements include: a) the first hydrogeological description of Ethiopia's basement aquifer, highlighting regional differences in groundwater potential and comparing it with the Arabian Nubian shield and other African basement rocks; b) a detailed analysis of groundwater occurrence in multilayered sedimentary rocks, addressing spatial variations in karstification, deformation history, and stratigraphy; c) a reclassification of Ethiopia's extensive volcanic aquifers based on age, morphology (such as groundwater in plateau and shield volcanics), and aquifer structure; and d) a revelation that alluvio-lacustrine sediments, previously underestimated, actually contain the most substantial groundwater resources in Ethiopia, characterized by their geomorphology, extent, and genesis. The book aims to leverage this new knowledge to enhance the understanding of groundwater resources in Ethiopia.