Cost, Difficulty Prevent Africans from Getting to Underground Water
2022-04-11
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1A recent study suggests that ground water is an answer to water shortages in African countries south of the Sahara Desert.
2This finding could help millions of people in an area which is expected to be strongly affected by climate change.
3WaterAid, an international non-profit group, and the British Geological Survey (BGS), a British government organization, carried out the research.
4It found that underground water could help African countries deal with at least five years of drought.
5The report released in March said underground water could help develop agriculture in the area.
6Additional water resources could help farming in an area where only three to five percent of agricultural land is irrigated.
7For example, BGS information shows Senegal has an aquifer, or underground water supply, that has been kept in good condition by years of rainfall.
8But getting to the water is difficult and costly.
9Experts say it is hard to find scientists who are trained at finding underground water.
10Tata Bathily is a village in northern Senegal.
11When a well there began to dry up in 2010, the government dug another one.
12That well began to dry up too.
13Then the town raised $5,000 to dig a new well last year.
14But that well also failed.
15The most dependable aquifers can be 400 meters underground.
16That is 10 times deeper than the Tata Bathily wells. Building a well that deep costs about $20,000.
17"We don't drink enough to satisfy our thirst," said Oumou Drame.
18She added that they do not wash themselves or their clothes.
19She is 40-years-old and a mother of five.
20She wakes up before the sun rises every day to get what is left from the old well before it runs dry in a few hours.
21"We don't sleep at night, we leave our children [at home] to fetch water.
22From very early in the morning until now we are looking for water," said Drame, after transporting up a near-empty water can from the well.
23Wells that no longer work are common in the hot and dry area called Matam where Tata Bathily is found.
24Temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius.
25Communities there guess where to dig a well.
26When they are wrong, women and children have to go even farther in search of a few liters of water.
27In villages visited by Reuters, local people said that the growing population and unpredictable rainfall have reduced supplies.
28"The story for Senegal is that the good quality groundwater may not be exactly where you want it to be," said Alan MacDonald.
29He is a scientist who studies water resources at the BGS.
30International water experts and leaders gathered in Senegal's capital Dakar in March for a meeting of the World Water Council.
31They called for better availability of drinking water for those who live beyond the reach of piped water networks.
32That same week, local people in Tata Bathily, about 700 kilometers away in the northeast, were digging in a dry river bed a few kilometers from the village.
33They were collecting the dirty water that was available there.
34Children quickly drank it, even though it made them sick.
35I'm Gregory Stachel.
1A recent study suggests that ground water is an answer to water shortages in African countries south of the Sahara Desert. 2This finding could help millions of people in an area which is expected to be strongly affected by climate change. 3WaterAid, an international non-profit group, and the British Geological Survey (BGS), a British government organization, carried out the research. It found that underground water could help African countries deal with at least five years of drought. 4The report released in March said underground water could help develop agriculture in the area. Additional water resources could help farming in an area where only three to five percent of agricultural land is irrigated. 5For example, BGS information shows Senegal has an aquifer, or underground water supply, that has been kept in good condition by years of rainfall. But getting to the water is difficult and costly. Experts say it is hard to find scientists who are trained at finding underground water. 6Tata Bathily is a village in northern Senegal. When a well there began to dry up in 2010, the government dug another one. That well began to dry up too. Then the town raised $5,000 to dig a new well last year. But that well also failed. 7The most dependable aquifers can be 400 meters underground. That is 10 times deeper than the Tata Bathily wells. Building a well that deep costs about $20,000. 8"We don't drink enough to satisfy our thirst," said Oumou Drame. She added that they do not wash themselves or their clothes. She is 40-years-old and a mother of five. She wakes up before the sun rises every day to get what is left from the old well before it runs dry in a few hours. 9"We don't sleep at night, we leave our children [at home] to fetch water. From very early in the morning until now we are looking for water," said Drame, after transporting up a near-empty water can from the well. 10Finding water 11Wells that no longer work are common in the hot and dry area called Matam where Tata Bathily is found. Temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius. Communities there guess where to dig a well. When they are wrong, women and children have to go even farther in search of a few liters of water. 12In villages visited by Reuters, local people said that the growing population and unpredictable rainfall have reduced supplies. 13"The story for Senegal is that the good quality groundwater may not be exactly where you want it to be," said Alan MacDonald. He is a scientist who studies water resources at the BGS. 14International water experts and leaders gathered in Senegal's capital Dakar in March for a meeting of the World Water Council. They called for better availability of drinking water for those who live beyond the reach of piped water networks. 15That same week, local people in Tata Bathily, about 700 kilometers away in the northeast, were digging in a dry river bed a few kilometers from the village. They were collecting the dirty water that was available there. 16Children quickly drank it, even though it made them sick. 17I'm Gregory Stachel. 18Edward McAllister reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 19______________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain 22irrigate - n. to supply (something, such as land) with water by using artificial means (such as pipes) 23thirst - n. a feeling or need to drink water or some other drink 24fetch - v. to go after and bring back (someone or something) 25guess - v. to form an opinion or give an answer about something when you do not know much or anything about it 26We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.