Page 31 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report

Water Data Revolution: Closing the data gap for transboundary water in Africa

Water Balance Tab: The water balance figure shows modeled estimates of key water balance
terms. Each figure is specific to the year selected on the year selection tab. It includes annual
precipitation received by the basin, total evapotranspiration (ET), and its two sources: Blue ET
from blue water sources (e.g., surface water bodies and groundwater) and Rainfall ET (or Green

ET) from soil moisture replenished by rainfall. The figure also provides information on basin
outflow and changes in basin storage due to groundwater abstraction or recharge. Moreover, the
different water uses are considering, including for environmental purposes.

Figure 13 presents the water balance diagrams for the Volta and Incomati river basins. The

thickness of each component represents the volume of water flow, with thicker sections
corresponding to greater quantities. Notable differences between the two basins include the
proportion of water used for natural pastures (represented under the "utilized land" component
in the diagram). The Incomati basin shows a higher share of water allocated for this purpose
compared to the Volta Basin, which aligns with the fact that the Incomati basin is characterized
by extensive savannahs and natural reserves.

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