ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Groundwater is the preferred source for piped water supplies in many urban areas across Sub-Saharan Africa and its development is forecast to increase dramatically in an attempt to improve urban water supply coverage. The provision of clean drinking water while providing adequate sanitation and storm-water disposal has become a major challenge for many cities. The hydrogeology and groundwater situation of Addis Ababa, Abidjan, Cape Town, Dakar, Lagos, and Lusaka are highlighted as examples that illustrate the status of urban groundwater in Sub-Saharan Africa. The history of urban development and the current groundwater management practices under each case example is also discussed. The main man-made impacts on groundwater in the various cities under consideration are rapid urbanisation and changes in land use surrounding cities. The impact of urbanisation is not only viewed in terms of groundwater quality but as it affects recharge.
