Scientists say the notoriously dry continent of Africa is
sitting on a vast reservoir of groundwater. They argue that the
total volume of water in aquifers underground is 100 times the
amount found on the surface. The team have produced the most
detailed map yet of the scale and potential of this hidden
resource. Writing in the journal Environmental Research Letters,
they stress that large scale drilling might not be the best way
of increasing water supplies. Across Africa more than 300
million people are said not to have access to safe drinking
water. Demand for water is set to grow markedly in coming
decades due to population growth and the need for irrigation to
grow crops. Read More