This will form a solid base for evidence-based policy dialogue on water supply security for economic water use in sub-sectors such as agriculture, energy, domestic and industries and the environment. As an example, NIHSA developed an impressive flood early warning system, which combines in-country expertise in hydraulic modelling and joint expert meetings to derive ten-day flood forecasts of excellent accuracy. The flood related information is disseminated timely to the respective State and local stakeholders.
NIHSA’s role in water resource monitoring is somewhat confined by insufficient field equipment and processing capacity. NIHSA has 350 staff of which 60 percent working at professional levels. An immediate capacity need is to improve groundwater monitoring and mapping. While the general hydro-geological formations of aquifers are well identified and described, the actual status of groundwater bodies is less than certain. Many shallow aquifers are likely to be at risk of overdraft due to their relatively low specific yields and increasing abstractions for domestic and industrial purposes.
