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Review : Current groundwater monitoring practices in Rwanda and recommendations for enhancing knowledge of groundwater resources

Ngendahayo, Emmanuel LU orcid ; Nilsson, Erik LU ; Barmen, Gerhard LU ; Wali, Umaru Garba LU ; Larson, Magnus LU ; Nsabimana, Antoine LU and Persson, Kenneth M. LU (2025) In Hydrogeology Journal 33(2). p.339-354
Abstract

Although groundwater serves as the predominant source of drinking water across many rural regions and certain urban areas of Rwanda, little is known about this resource. Anthropogenic impacts, such as faecal contamination, as well as geogenic water quality problems, including elevated arsenic, fluoride, iron, and manganese, are among the issues of concern for groundwater quality in Rwanda. Long-term groundwater monitoring can provide data on the evolution of groundwater quantity and quality. It helps to identify trends related to over-abstraction, reduced recharge, and pollution, which supporting resource management decisions. This review assesses the current state of groundwater monitoring in Rwanda by identifying the strengths and... (More)

Although groundwater serves as the predominant source of drinking water across many rural regions and certain urban areas of Rwanda, little is known about this resource. Anthropogenic impacts, such as faecal contamination, as well as geogenic water quality problems, including elevated arsenic, fluoride, iron, and manganese, are among the issues of concern for groundwater quality in Rwanda. Long-term groundwater monitoring can provide data on the evolution of groundwater quantity and quality. It helps to identify trends related to over-abstraction, reduced recharge, and pollution, which supporting resource management decisions. This review assesses the current state of groundwater monitoring in Rwanda by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing monitoring efforts, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for improved groundwater monitoring and management. The findings indicate that groundwater quality assessments are only conducted for specific purposes without considering broader issues and that groundwater monitoring in Rwanda is, in many respects, insufficient. Based on these findings, the following recommendations are made: (1) expand the existing groundwater monitoring network to encompass all groundwater types, geological settings, and anthropogenic pressures in Rwanda; (2) install rainfall gauging stations at or near the groundwater monitoring stations to enhance the interpretation of groundwater monitoring data; (3) conduct groundwater sampling campaigns at least twice a year, that include major ion analyses; and (4) to regularly analyze and disseminate the monitoring results.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Drinking water supply, Groundwater management, Groundwater monitoring, Groundwater pollution, Rwanda
in
Hydrogeology Journal
volume
33
issue
2
pages
16 pages
publisher
Springer Nature
external identifiers
  • scopus:105003146625
ISSN
1431-2174
DOI
10.1007/s10040-025-02888-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3b5c8f15-e48a-4bf4-bd7a-1ba277ffb87a
date added to LUP
2026-01-09 13:50:05
date last changed
2026-01-09 13:50:52
@article{3b5c8f15-e48a-4bf4-bd7a-1ba277ffb87a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Although groundwater serves as the predominant source of drinking water across many rural regions and certain urban areas of Rwanda, little is known about this resource. Anthropogenic impacts, such as faecal contamination, as well as geogenic water quality problems, including elevated arsenic, fluoride, iron, and manganese, are among the issues of concern for groundwater quality in Rwanda. Long-term groundwater monitoring can provide data on the evolution of groundwater quantity and quality. It helps to identify trends related to over-abstraction, reduced recharge, and pollution, which supporting resource management decisions. This review assesses the current state of groundwater monitoring in Rwanda by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing monitoring efforts, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for improved groundwater monitoring and management. The findings indicate that groundwater quality assessments are only conducted for specific purposes without considering broader issues and that groundwater monitoring in Rwanda is, in many respects, insufficient. Based on these findings, the following recommendations are made: (1) expand the existing groundwater monitoring network to encompass all groundwater types, geological settings, and anthropogenic pressures in Rwanda; (2) install rainfall gauging stations at or near the groundwater monitoring stations to enhance the interpretation of groundwater monitoring data; (3) conduct groundwater sampling campaigns at least twice a year, that include major ion analyses; and (4) to regularly analyze and disseminate the monitoring results.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ngendahayo, Emmanuel and Nilsson, Erik and Barmen, Gerhard and Wali, Umaru Garba and Larson, Magnus and Nsabimana, Antoine and Persson, Kenneth M.}},
  issn         = {{1431-2174}},
  keywords     = {{Drinking water supply; Groundwater management; Groundwater monitoring; Groundwater pollution; Rwanda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{339--354}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Hydrogeology Journal}},
  title        = {{Review : Current groundwater monitoring practices in Rwanda and recommendations for enhancing knowledge of groundwater resources}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02888-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10040-025-02888-1}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}