Excessive use of groundwater in Herat to fuel future water crisis

Boreholes are not the solution to Zimbabwe’s water crisis—they may worsen it

Tendai Ruben Mbofana There has been a growing disturbing trend. The Zimbabwean government has, in recent years, taken to vigorously drilling boreholes across the country as its signature approach to solving the country’s deepening water crisis.  Branded as the “Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme,” this initiative aims to install boreholes in all of Zimbabwe’s 35,000 villages by 2025.  What may appear at face value as a noble gesture to pro…

Excessive use of groundwater in Herat to fuel future water crisis

With decreasing rainfall and a shortage of surface water in western Herat province, farmers have increasingly turned to solar-powered systems to extract groundwater for irrigation---an action that has raised concerns about a future water crisis.