Groundwater - Pushing the limits

The theme of this year’s conference, "Pushing the Limits", will highlight all relevant and current issues relating to the limits of groundwater management and research in Southern Africa (Picture by Mitzi du Plessis) "In Southern Africa, given our high levels of evaporative losses, I can see little alternative but to consider managed groundwater recharge as a major strategic initiative. This will need a substantial investment into the groundwater community in terms of skills, money and partnerships." – Dr Tony Turton, keynote speaker

This year’s Biennial Groundwater Conference will be held from 16-18 November at The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West, Cape Town.

The biennial conferences have become the key meeting point for groundwater professionals to share recent experiences, successes and mistakes, and catch up with their colleagues in groundwater.

This year’s theme, "Pushing the Limits", will highlight all relevant and current issues relating to the limits of groundwater management and research in Southern Africa. These include issues limiting our understanding of resource development and depletion, groundwater and the environment, climate change, and scarce skills.

The keynote speaker is Dr Tony Turton, who holds a Professorship at the University of the Free State in the Centre for Environmental Management. Turton is a director of TouchStone Resources, a company that is positioning itself in the market to manage water and energy as a flux.