Katharina Müller

Integrated Water Resources Management in Water-scarce Regions: Water Harvesting, Groundwater Desalination and Water Reuse in Namibia

Integrated Water Resources Management in Water-scarce Regions consolidates the transdisciplinary research of the project “CuveWaters: Integrated Water Resources Management in Central Northern Namibia (Cuvelai Basin) in the SADC-Region” funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and undertaken from 2004 to 2015 in Namibia. In these eleven years it was possible to accomplish all three phases of an ideal-typical transdisciplinary research process, from creating a common research object down to transdisciplinary dissemination. The transdisciplinary research approach was designed to tackle the life-world problems of food security, sanitation and access to water in a sustainable way. It aimed at integrating science, technology and society with the common goal of establishing a multi-resource mix for water use to improve the living conditions of people in the project region. This ‘multi-resource mix’ comprises water from different sources made available through adapted technological solutions which are socially embedded. The technological solutions identified with the Namibian partners were rainwater and floodwater harvesting, groundwater desalination, sanitation and water reuse. Each technological solution is reflected in terms of approach, technology, social aspects, management and governance issues, economic viability and sustainability evaluation. This book shows how technological innovation must go hand in hand with social innovation regarding knowledge, practices and institutions. A comprehensive report of the design, methodologies and procedures as well as the research findings and conclusions is provided here. The aim of this book is to share with researchers, professionals and practitioners the lessons learned during the project and provide guidance for replication. ISBN: 9781780407906 (Print) ISBN: 9781780407913 (eBook) ISBN: 9781780409504 (ePub)

From the Concept to the Tap—Integrated Water Resources Management in Northern Namibia

Namibia is the most arid country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Cuvelai-Etosha Basin (CEB) in central northern Namibia in particular is experiencing various ecological and social-ecological challenges such as high climate variability, saline groundwater, dependence on Angola for freshwater supply, high population growth and density, and increasing urbanisation. These challenges make water supply and management difficult and threaten the livelihood of the local population and the health of the ecosystem. Facing up to these challenges, the German-Namibian research project CuveWaters has developed, adapted and set up different technologies as pilot plant s. The Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) concept of CuveWaters is based on a multi-resource-mix in which water is obtained from different sources (rainwater, floodwater, groundwater and wastewater) and used for various purposes. High quality water is used as drinking water; water of a relatively low quality is used for irrigation. In cooperation with the residents of four villages and one small town, the project partners are implementing different technologies to collect and store, produce, treat and reuse water. The implemented technologies are rain- and floodwater harvesting, groundwater desalination, and the combination of sanitation, wastewater treatment and water reuse. The aim is to improve peoples’ livelihood through research on innovative and adapted solutions which contribute to a successful and adapted application of IWRM. To this end, the project integrates science, technology and societal aspects in a transdisciplinary research approach by linking scientific knowledge from natural, engineering and social sciences with the everyday practices and know-how of the stakeholders involved. Thus, the technical aspects are complemented by a wide range of societal and scientific components, such as capacity development, monitoring, participation or knowledge management. These ensure societal embedding of the technologies and knowledge transfer. This paper will illustrate the transdisciplinary approach, implemented technologies and accompanying measures as well as key results.