Hydrological Balance Assessment for Sustainable Water Resources Management: Case Studies in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Tanzania

Effective water resources management is crucial for addressing challenges such as climate change, population growth, and increasing agricultural demands. Within the EWA-BELT project framework, the Thornthwaite-Mather method was employed to evaluate the water balance across selected watersheds in Ghana, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Kenya. This well-established method provides insight into the dynamic interactions among precipitation, evapotranspiration, and soil water storage over time within a specified geographic area. Comprehensive data—including land use, soil characteristics, geological conditions, GIS information (sourced from literature reviews and online platforms), and meteorological records (precipitation and temperature)—were integrated to calculate the water balance. The analysis highlighted distinct hydrological differences between East and West Africa. East African sites generally experience lower temperatures, higher precipitation, and more permeable geological formations. Key findings indicate that all studied basins exhibit a water surplus, with annual soil moisture reaching capacity, thereby storing excess water in aquifers and contributing to runoff. Notably, case studies in Kenya and Tanzania demonstrate a higher potential for water resource exploitation due to increased precipitation, higher infiltration rates, and relatively lower evapotranspiration compared to Ghana and Burkina Faso. Consequently, these regions may provide more water to meet human demands, particularly for irrigation. The method’s outputs offer valuable insights for water resource management, agricultural planning, and climate change impact assessments, particularly in regions where water availability is critically dependent on seasonal and inter-annual variations.