Impact of Natural and Anthropogenic Stresses on Surface and Groundwater Supply Sources of the Upper Awash Sub-Basin, Central Ethiopia

A significant increase in unmet domestic water demand, potentially reaching 760 MCM by 2030 under high population growth scenarios, threatens water security in the Upper Awash sub-basin, Ethiopia. This study reveals that while climate change impacts are less severe compared to population growth and water leakage (23% of unmet demand), unsustainable groundwater abstraction without complementary surface water reservoir schemes risks depleting groundwater resources by over 20 meters, particularly in the Akaki catchment supplying Addis Ababa. The research demonstrates that conjunctive use of surface and groundwater can alleviate these pressures, boosting domestic water demand coverage from 26% to 90% under climate change scenarios with minimal impact on groundwater levels. To ensure sustainable water utilization, policies must prioritize conjunctive management strategies while addressing water leakage.

Birhanu, B., Kebede, S., Charles, K., Taye, M., Atlaw, A., & Birhane, M. (2021). Impact of Natural and Anthropogenic Stresses on Surface and Groundwater Supply Sources of the Upper Awash Sub-Basin, Central Ethiopia. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.656726