The government has urged borehole owners, drillers and stakeholders to strictly adhere to regulatory standards as Zambia grapples with rising water demand and climate-induced stress.
And government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the management of groundwater resources in the country.
Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation Permanent Secretary, Romas Kamanga, said groundwater is central to Zambia’s socio-economic development, public health, agriculture and resilience to droughts.
Mr Kamanga noted that the recent periods of prolonged drought and water scarcity have proved the critical value of reliable water sources.
He was speaking during the Annual Drillers’ Forum hosted with support from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR).
“Groundwater is central to Zambia’s economic development and human health. It is the backbone of resilience during climate variability,” he said.
Mr Kamanga said the government implemented the Food Security Drought Response Plan to mitigate the impact of drought through drilling 1,500 boreholes across 84 districts and rehabilitating 509 others.
Government has also installed two mechanised solar water schemes in five provinces and constructed 110 commercial boreholes for water utilities.
He said targeted projects were also rolled out in peri-urban communities such as Kanyama in Lusaka and in constituencies like Petauke, Katombola and Chikankata with the aim of improving access to safe water for households, health institutions, schools and livestock.
And Consultant Hydrologist, Simon Kang’omba of China Ghansu, raised concerns about the technical capacity of some WARMA Officers at district level, saying skill gaps often lead to delays and misunderstandings between regulators and contractors.
“Some district officers lack basic geological and engineering knowledge. This creates unnecessary disagreements and delays decision-making,” he said.
Mr Kang’omba has since recommended that WARMA should collaborate with institutions such as the University of Zambia to develop continuous training programmes for its frontline officers.
“When a complaint is raised, it should not automatically be assumed the contractor is wrong. There must be an enabling environment where the regulator, the client and the driller work together before penalties are imposed,” he said.
And Water Resources Management Authority Acting Director-General, Misozi Lumpa acknowledged that groundwater plays a vital role especially in communities where municipal supply is unreliable or non-existent.
Mrs Lumpa warned that WARMA will not hesitate to suspend or revoke licences for companies that fail to comply with regulations or neglect submitting Borehole Completion Reports.
“Until the ongoing review of SI No. 20 is concluded, strict compliance with existing regulations is mandatory. WARMA will not tolerate non-compliance,” she said.
She has since praised licensed drillers, engineers, local authorities and development partners for their contribution to strengthening groundwater protection and improving service delivery.
She urged stakeholders to share experiences and collaborate in addressing gaps within the drilling sector.
“Let this forum be a catalyst for practical action and stronger partnerships. Together, we must uphold professionalism and safeguard Zambia’s water resources for future generations,” she said.
