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As the world’s largest water data provider, the USGS Water Resources Mission Area continually improves the delivery of accurate, timely, and innovative water data and science from local to national scales, which is critical to the understanding of our world’s water.

In addition to national efforts, USGS is also partnered with USAID in several international projects. In drought stressed arid regions of Kenya and Ethiopia the USGS and its partners are using remote sensing data and technology, along with traditional hydrogeological methods, to map groundwater resources. The goal is to locate and quantify the aquifers to improve the success rate of drilling water supply wells and help ensure sustainable development and management of the precious resource.

Training is also being provided to the water agencies affiliated with the Government of Ethiopia and the Government of Kenya that will allow them to replicate the mapping process throughout their respective countries.  This transfer of knowledge between government agencies promotes effective water sustainability by building local capacity and expertise on water resource management. Local water resource experts can then apply a similar approach to define and manage groundwater resources in similar drought prone regions.

Detailed information on the study can be found on the USAID webpage.

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Learn more:

USAID Ethiopia and Kenya Groundwater Study Project Page

USGS NJWSC Groundwater Exploration and Assessment Program Page  

Information on USGS International Programs

What is remote sensing and what is it used for?

Innovative science (geophysics) for groundwater studies