The document summarizes an advanced survey of groundwater resources conducted in northern and central Turkana County, Kenya from July 2012 to June 2013. The survey was implemented by UNESCO's Groundwater Resources Investigation for Drought Mitigation in Africa Programme (GRIDMAP) and conducted by Radar Technologies International. The objectives were to assess groundwater potential and identify new resources. Methodologies included remote sensing, geophysical surveys, and modeling. Results identified over 3 billion cubic meters of annual recharge and 250 billion cubic meters of storage. Priority areas like Lodwar were found to have significant groundwater endowments. Recommendations included further research, drilling capacity building, short-term projects, and aquifer management.

1. Advanced Survey of Groundwater Resources of
Northern and Central Turkana County, Kenya
August 2013
Peter Manyara
National Programme Coordinator for Kenya, UNESCO-GRIDMAP
Contact: p.manyara@unesco.org
©Natalie Walther
Implemented by:
Survey contractor:
Groundwater Resources Investigation
for Drought Mitigation in
Africa Programme
Radar Technologies International
Client:
Republic of Kenya
Ministry of Environment, Water and
Natural Resources
Contribution to the national
development strategy:
Financed by:
JAPAN
Official Development Assistance

2. Table of Contents
• About UNESCO & IHP
• The Turkana Groundwater Survey and Mapping
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Overview
Objectives
Methodology
Validation
Results and findings
Recommendations
Survey outputs
• UN IYWC 2013

3. ABOUT UNESCO
•
Established in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) contributes to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through
education, science, and culture.
UNESCO strives to build networks among nations that enable this kind of solidarity, by:
•
Mobilizing for education: access; quality; rights; development.
•
Building intercultural understanding: cultural diversity; World Heritage
•
Pursuing scientific cooperation: early warning systems; trans-boundary waters; relations
•
Protecting freedom of expression: condition for democracy, development and human dignity.

4. UNESCO-IHP
The International Hydrological Programme (IHP)
•
•
The only intergovernmental programme of the UN system devoted to water research, water
resources management, and education and capacity building; Tailored to States’ needs
it is implemented in six-year phases – allowing it to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
IHP-VII: Water Dependencies: Systems under Stress and Societal Responses (2008-2013)
•
This phase continued to lead international hydrological research, facilitate education and capacity
development and enhance governance in water management towards meeting the UN MDGs on
environmental sustainability, water supply, sanitation, food security and poverty alleviation.
IHP-VIII: Water Security: Responses to Local, Regional, and Global Challenges (2014-2021)
•
The new phase follows the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era and envisions new
challenges to be set in the SDGs. During its eighth phase, IHP aims to improve water security in
response to local, regional, and global challenges.

5. IHP-VIII, 2014–2021
In response to the priorities and needs of Member States, IHP-VIII focuses on six knowledge
areas, translated into themes:

6. IHP-VIII, 2014–2021
THEME 2: GROUNDWATER IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT
•
Focal Area 2.1 - Enhancing sustainable groundwater resources management
•
Focal Area 2.2 - Addressing strategies for management of aquifers recharge
•
Focal Area 2.3 - Adapting to the impacts of climate change on aquifer systems
•
Focal Area 2.4 - Promoting groundwater quality protection
•
Focal Area 2.5 - Promoting management of transboundary aquifers

7. IHP PROGRAMMES
CROSS-CUTTING PROGRAMMES AND INITIATIVES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
HELP: Hydrology for the Environment, Life, and Policy
FRIEND: Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data
GRAPHIC: Groundwater Resources Assessment under the Pressures of Humanity and Climate Change
G-WADI: Global Network on Water and Development Information in Arid Lands
IDI: International Drought Initiative
IFI: International Flood Initiative
ISARM: Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management
ISI: International Sediment Initiative
JIIHP: UNESCO-IAEA Joint International Isotope Hydrology Programme
PC-CP: Water for Peace: From Potential Conflicts to Cooperation Potential
UWMP: Urban Water Management Programme
International Knowledge, Research, and Policy Initiative on Water Quality
WHYMAP: World Hydrogeological Map

8. Advanced Survey of Groundwater
Resources of Northern and Central
Turkana County, Kenya

9. OVERVIEW
Target area
Beneficiary
Executioner
Budget
Donor
Duration
Contractor
National framework
Regional frameworks
Parent Project
Scientific review
Northern and central Turkana County
Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
UNESCO
$700,000 ($150,000 for exploratory drilling)
Japan (Official Development Assistance)
July 2012 – June 2013
Radar Technologies International (RTI)
Kenya Vision 2030
GRIDMAP, IGAD
Strengthening capacity to combat drought and famine in the
Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia), $1.5 million
Technical Scientific Committee (Kenya)

10. OBJECTIVES
1. To survey and assess the groundwater potential of North-central Turkana County
2. To identify and assess a maximum quantity of new clean groundwater resources
for populations, with particular focus on Lodwar, Lokichogio, and Kakuma
3. To assess the potential of groundwater for development, with a focus on both
shallow and deep structures
Lokichogio
36,000 km2
Kakuma
Lodwar

11. METHODOLOGY

12. METHODOLOGY
Landsat 7 Processing
Lithological contrasting
SRTM Processing: Elevation & slope evaluation
Elevations
Water dynamics evaluation
Surface Drainage
Catchment boundaries and
harvesting
Geological assessment
Slopes
Soil Type Classification

13. METHODOLOGY
WATEX Radar Processing and classifying shallow groundwater (0-80 m)

14. METHODOLOGY
WATEX Shallow Aquifer Groundwater Occurrence Model (SAGOM):
Classifying shallow groundwater (0-80 m)
Light blue
30% probability of aquifer presence if
combined with a conductive fracture.
Green
25% probability of groundwater
occurrence, located over hills and
mountains. Wells in these pixels should
only be drilled with the presence of a
conductive fracture
Black / dark
0-5%, minimal occurrence potential, likely
to be dry or have little potential for
groundwater occurrence.
6.25 m
75% probability of aquifer presence if
combined with a conductive fracture.
Negative
Negative
Negative
Positive
6.25 m
Red
Minimum of 90%. These pixels represent
fracture discharges in alluvial sediments,
or pure alluvial aquifers.
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Positive
Positive
6.25 m
Yellow
Occurrence potential at location
Negative
Negative
Positive
Positive
Positive
6.25 m
Pixel Color
Pixel resolution (39 m2)
Negative
Negative
Positive
Positive
Positive
6.25 m
Groundwater potential color coding
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
6.25 m
6.25 m
6.25 m
6.25 m
6.25 m

15. Mapping shallow groundwater (0-80 m)
METHODOLOGY
WATEX fracture mapping and classification
WATEX Landsat and SRTM
processing for fractures
WATEX Fracture classification,
Conductive (yellow), non-conductive (blue)

16. Mapping shallow groundwater (0-80 m)
METHODOLOGY
WATEX Deep Aquifer Model (DAM):
Inferring deep-seated aquifers (100 - 3000 m)
Interpretation of gravimetric data
Interpretation of seismic data

17. Mapping shallow groundwater (0-80 m)
METHODOLOGY
WATEX Deep Aquifer Model (DAM):
Inferring deep-seated aquifers (100 - 3000 m)
Regional deep aquifers
Lotikipi Aquifer (330m)
Lodwar Aquifer (126m)

18. MODEL VALIDATION
WATEX accuracy level in Turkana: > 94% for shallow alluvial groundwater occurrence
UNESCO Validation Results

19. RESULTS & FINDINGS
Total Groundwater Resources in Northern-central Turkana County
Aquifer regime
Est. Recharge
(MCM / yr)
Est. Storage
Capacity (MCM)
Shallow alluvial systems (0-100 m)
2,085
2,085*
Deep-seated systems (100-800 m)
1,362
248,250
3,447
250,335
* In absence of localized data at the regional scale, a conservative estimate for the cumulative storage capacity
of shallow alluvial assumes the same amount of annual recharge

20. RESULTS & FINDINGS
Deep-seated Aquifer Systems in Northern-central Turkana County
Aquifer system
Recharge
Storage
(MCM/yr)
capacity
(MCM)
(1) Lotikipi Basin
1,200
207,500
(2) Lodwar Basin
-*
10,000
(3) Gatome Half-graben
61
17,250
(4) Nakalale Half-graben
59
7,000
(5) Kachoda Half-graben
21
6,500
1,362
248,250
Total
* Estimate for recharge of Lodwar Aquifer is not given due to insufficient data on Turkwel River recharge dynamics.

21. RESULTS & FINDINGS
Groundwater Potentials for Priority Areas in Northern-central Turkana County
Lodwar
Kakuma
Lokichogio
•
•
•
Groundwater
potential (1,292
MCM per year)
•
•
•
No seasonal
groundwater level
variation in the
boreholes below
alluvial deposits
•
Endowed with the
deep Lodwar Basin
Aquifer (10 BCM)
•
Groundwater potential,
within 10km2, (51 million
m3/year
Current water withdrawals
only 2.5% of available
groundwater
Best options for shallow
boreholes (<100 meters) is
to drill within the fracture
corridor of the Tarash River
identified by the study
Located 25 km south of the
southern portion of Lotikipi
Basin Aquifer
•
•
•
Groundwater potential,
(107 million m3/year)
Few viable options
available within 10 km
of town
Located 25 km west of
the western portion of
Lotikipi Basin Aquifer

22. RECOMMENDATIONS
Survey tools and maps
•
•
Research
•
•
•
•
Drilling capacities
•
•
•
The Government of Kenya should take measures to ensure the dissemination
of information and tools to stakeholders.
GOK, UNESCO and other partners should expand and build the cadre of
skilled professionals who can utilize the survey tools.
Kenyan government and its affiliated research institutions should conduct
additional studies in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding
of these resources and their full potential and vulnerabilities.
Expand the WATEX study approach to the rest of Turkana and Kenya in
order to benefit other regions. Turkana can be a model for other counties.
Study socio-economic potential of groundwater, particularly deep aquifers
Continue hydrogeological research and modeling of deep structures,
including the exploration of the un-confirmed structures, and more boreholes
on the confirmed aquifers.
The skills/capacity of the drilling industry is inadequate for carrying out
reliable and sound exploratory drilling.
A major campaign should be launched to build the capacity of the industry as
a whole, and reduce the inefficiencies in the market.
It is important if the Government can acquire specialized drilling equipment
for exploratory drilling of scientific boreholes.

23. RECOMMENDATIONS
Short term projects
•
•
Aquifer management
•
•
•
Develop exploratory boreholes (Lotikipi and Lodwar) to be able to provide
immediate water supply to local communities.
Drill up to 200-500 shallow alluvial boreholes in high-potential areas identified
by this survey.
Kenyan authorities should establish a limit on abstraction rates for both the
Lotikipi and Lodwar Aquifers. WRMA can establish the rates for abstraction
for both normal and emergency situations.
Kenyan authorities are recommended to undertake aquifer zoning and
gazette adjacent land to protect the aquifers from harmful activities.
Establish a modern aquifer monitoring system to monitor the Lotikipi and
Lodwar aquifers.

24. SURVEY OUTPUTS
Full Technical Report
(August 2013)
High Potential Groundwater Target Map;
Groundwater Recharge Map;
Soil and Vegetation Map (1:200,000)
GIS Database of
groundwater resources
RADAR TECHNOLOGIES
INTERNATIONAL
!
Technical Field Manual for
Groundwater Targeting
NORTHERN-CENTRAL TURKANA COUNTY
Groundwater Exploration
Navigation System (GENS)
Technical field manual for
groundwater targeting
Practical field training

25. UN IYWC 2013
UN International Year of Water Cooperation 2013
•
Aims at raising awareness about opportunities in water cooperation.
•
UNESCO was officially designated by UN-Water to lead the preparations for this IY in 2013.
•
Water cooperation: has multiple dimensions including cultural, educational, scientific, religious,
ethical, social, political, legal, institutional and economic aspects.
•
A multidisciplinary approach is essential to grasp the many facets implied in the concept and
to blend such parts into a holistic vision.
•
A common understanding of what the needs and challenges are around water is required in order
for water cooperation to be successful and long-lasting: building a shared consensus
•
Participation from a wide range of parties including NGOs, IOs, UN Agencies, National and
Regional Institutions, and Academia among others is expected and encouraged.