Groundwater Division
This Division is headed by a Deputy Director and is comprised of two sections, namely; Groundwater Development and Drilling, and Hydrogeological and Hand pump Research with establishments at Headquarters and Regions (Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Blantyre) with some staff administratively deployed in districts of Chitipa, Rumphi, Nkhatabay, Nkhotakota, Ntchisi, Salima, Lilongwe, Ntcheu, Machinga, Zomba, and Nsanje. The main functions of the Division are as follows:
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Plan, manage, develop and monitor groundwater resources of the country;
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Assess and advise on the availability of groundwater within the country;
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Conduct research on groundwater development in terms of procedures to be followed, changing technologies and equipment;
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Manage and conserve groundwater resources in the country for use by all, and
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Conduct hydrogeological research and formulate groundwater resource management plans.
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Manage the operation of Borehole Construction and Groundwater Management Fund whereby the Division using its professional capacity offers groundwater development and drilling services of the highest standard on demand after payment of appropriate charge. This, in the process moderates the cost of groundwater development in the country.
A Drilling rig mounted Four-wheel Drive Truck with mud pump and all drilling accessories.
Sections
The Section is headed by Chief Groundwater Development Officer and offer the following services and responsibilities
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Planning for ground water exploration for large and small scale ground water development activities.
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Advise on and supervise borehole drilling activities.
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Carry out groundwater assessment for sustainable groundwater resource usage and appropriate designs.
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Carry out consultancy on groundwater development activities.
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Advise government and clients on all aspects of groundwater development activities.
Offer groundwater development and drilling services through Borehole Construction and Groundwater Management Fund
The section is headed by Chief Hydrogeological Research Officer and offer the following services and responsibilities:
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Carry out hydro geological assessment including borehole drilling for research.
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Preparation of hydro geological and pump research proposals.
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Conduct hydro geological and pump research work.
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Collection, processing and archiving of hydro geological data including records of groundwater quantity, quality and level monitoring.
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Establish and maintain a groundwater monitoring network.
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Establish and maintain a national groundwater database.
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Updating national hydro geological maps.
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Conducting environmental impact assessments (EIA) and environmental risk assessment (ERA) for groundwater resources.
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Advise on all aspects of research, science and technology as regards to hydro geological/groundwater development.
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Initiate review and improvement for adaptation, invention and transfer of technologies in groundwater resources development and management.
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Make recommendations and provide advice on use of appropriate technology and feasibility of groundwater development.
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Monitoring and testing of new and old pump prototypes.
