Our only source of water is at risk!
The Stampriet Artesian Basin (SAB) or Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System (STAS) extends from southeastern Namibia into Botswana and South Africa.
The total area covers 86 647 km2, of which 73% is in Namibia, 19% in Botswana and 8% in South Africa.
Boreholes into the aquifers have supported farming for more than a century. Surface springs are rare.
People, animals and the farming and tourist economies of the whole region are entirely dependent on drinking water from the underground aquifers.
Neighbouring countries pump water from exactly the same aquifers. The biggest aquifer with the strongest yields supplies towns and villages with drinking water.
Irrigation accounts for 88% of annual water usage from this aquifer.
The uranium ore bodies in the Leonardville area occur at the top of the same aquifer.
Modelling of the high groundwater flow rates induced by irrigation predict a huge potential for contamination of aquifers by toxic in situ leach mine solutions.
Our only source of water is at risk!
The total area covers 86 647 km2, of which 73% is in Namibia, 19% in Botswana and 8% in South Africa.
Boreholes into the aquifers have supported farming for more than a century. Surface springs are rare.
People, animals and the farming and tourist economies of the whole region are entirely dependent on drinking water from the underground aquifers.
Neighbouring countries pump water from exactly the same aquifers. The biggest aquifer with the strongest yields supplies towns and villages with drinking water.
Irrigation accounts for 88% of annual water usage from this aquifer.
The uranium ore bodies in the Leonardville area occur at the top of the same aquifer.
Modelling of the high groundwater flow rates induced by irrigation predict a huge potential for contamination of aquifers by toxic in situ leach mine solutions.
Our only source of water is at risk!
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Namibian Sun
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