The occupation of discharge areas with housing, attacks on forests and extractive activities are among the risks that threaten the sustainability of the Lubango aquifer, in Huíla, and which could create availability problems in the next 50 years, ANGOP found.
The warning was given yesterday, Monday, by environmentalist Silvano Leví, who in statements to ANGOP stated that even with these conditions, the sustainability of water in the city of Lubango is still healthy, but given the dynamics of the demographic explosion, people are subject to lack of liquid.
He explained that aquifer recharges in any territory depend on rainfall and due to the demographic explosion, it is important to ensure the preservation of recharge basins for underground reserves and springs.
However, he stated that this responsibility must be handed over to man, in order to create reservoirs and preserve recharge areas, so as not to depend solely on strengthening water lines, or rivers and lakes, so such areas must be better preserved.
“If we manage water well we can still have it for longevity, but we need to be concerned about Lubango in 50 years. If we continue with the current system we will not have the liquid, as we currently have a policy of exploration and use of water resources, without worrying about management”, he continued.
Silvano Leví recognized that Lubango, due to its relief, is by nature a good drainer of surface water, but it also loses a lot of water during the rainy season, meaning there is a need for better management of its use.
Environmentalist talks about the need for better management of recharge zones
He said that the evolution of urbanization occupation requires management of the recharge areas that are running out, recognizing that the Lubango’s surface lines are all worn out, as they do not have sufficient flow to ensure filtration and the hydrological cycle.
As an example, he pointed out the recharge area on the way to the Arimba commune that was occupied by people, a wetland area that is no longer existing. He highlighted the need to preserve the Tundavala recharge zone, improving the flow regularization areas, so that it is not lost downstream and filtration is carried out regularly through floodgates, with a view to ensuring that its penetration into the soil is systematic and of appropriately in order to reach the appropriate water table.
“The Tundavala lagoon sometimes dries up and if adequate work is not done to enlarge its basin, so that it accumulates more water and in a sustainable way, it can be used regularly, through the floodgates, but first it is necessary to desilt it. ”, he added.
He considered that the recharge zones, in addition to having hydrology, also have aquatic flora, so by losing the profile of the Caculuvar river, where its banks were occupied by aquatic plants, they no longer exist because the river has lowered its flow rate, as a result your water line and plants are disappearing.
“We also have a sheet of water in the Arimba area where bridges are being built with the Lubango Circular works and one of them is upstream of the lagoon.
In this, a new lagoon could be opened so that the water can begin to be preserved and with this we would be relaunching a new aquifer recharge zone”, he reaffirmed.
He made it known that behind the Quilemba Centrality there is a river that could also be a recharge zone for the water holes drilled on the site, as well as the so-called three bridges that could also be a recharge zone.
“If we consider the Caculuvar recharge zone and the three bridges to be continuous and open, all the water that falls will go to Cunene, but with management it is possible that it will not all go to the Cunene river basin”, he suggested.
In addition to human occupation, the environmentalist also highlighted the fight against desertification, as the population is abusing the forest cover found on top of the mountains, cutting down trees, burning, and exploiting granite and sandstone. .
The mountains, according to the source, are also water reservoirs and the abuse of them will lead to the loss of some profile, the hydrological level and in the open air it is already clear that the circulation of the liquid has reduced.
He mentioned that the mining extractive process can also lead to a risk to the hydrological cycle, as well as agricultural activity, which, if its irrigation methodology is not well managed, can have negative effects through wasted water.
Silvano Leví reinforced that, therefore, irrigation must be carried out with management, with flow rates and irrigation ditches well regulated so that the wear and tear of water does not overload the route areas, causing the crop to be fed regularly.
The academic stated that although the municipality has soils that accept boreholes, guidance is needed, despite the great need for water, people open boreholes in their backyards, without often obeying the rules that undergo a geological study and recommends It is clear that such holes are communal.
Silvano Levi, 56 years old, is a specialist in the environment, spatial planning and requalification of cities, in agriculture and livestock.
He is also an expert in territorial focus and rural development, as well as zoological processes, fisheries biology and pasture regeneration and studies of transhumance corridors. He was previously administrator of the municipality of Lubango from 2012 to 2014.
