WASH FORUM - Accessing Ground Water
At this WASH Forum, hosted by the University of Strathclyde and chaired by Prof Tracy Morse, we heard from Muthi Nhlema, Team Leader at BASEflow. BASEflow is a Malawian NGO whose core mission is to improve the sustainability of groundwater sources for rural populations to access safe drinking water.
Muthi Nhlema, founder of BASEflow, opened the session with a bold call to move beyond “business as usual” in ground water supply. Despite 80% of Malawians relying on groundwater, nearly 30% of hand pumps are non-functional. This is often due to poor siting, construction issues, or drying boreholes. Muthi emphasised the need for professional supervision, community-led groundwater recharge, and investments in monitoring infrastructure to create a more sustainable system.
Muthi quoted Mark Twain, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
Donald Robertson from the University of Strathclyde emphasised the urgent need to make WASH systems climate-resilient by fully integrating groundwater management. His work explores community-driven solutions like groundwater monitoring through citizen science, as well as rethinking infrastructure to better withstand climate impacts like flooding and droughts.
Esther Mabedi, a PhD fellow from the University of Dundee, shared the main focus of her research, which is investigating how pit latrines may be contaminating boreholes across Malawi. Her study explores the hydrogeological factors behind this issue, aiming to strengthen sanitation policies and improve water safety in rural areas.
The event wrapped up with insights by Dr Kerr Adams from Hydro Nation International Center on the SPARKE project, which aims to bridge the gap between science and policy in Malawi. Early findings show a strong appetite for collaboration but highlight challenges such as data accessibility and lack of policy frameworks.
Key takeaway: Sustainable access to water in Malawi requires a shift in mindset—toward smarter planning, climate adaptation, and community-driven solutions.
We look forward to continuing these vital conversations in the next WASH Forum.
Resources
Agenda available here.
Ground Water Supply, Muthi Nhlema's presentation available here.
Climate Resilient: WASH, Donald Robertson's presentation available here.
Water and Sanitation Conflict, Esther Chifuniro Mabedi's presentation available here.
Water and Climate, Dr Kerr Adams's presentation available here.
Report by James Kitt available here.
Recorded video
Missed the event? You can find the recording here with the below time stamps.
00:00 Opening remarks, Professor Tracy Morse - Head of Centre, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Strathclyde
02:27 Ground Water Supply, Muthi Nhlema, - Team Leader at BASEflow
28:22 Climate Resilient: WASH, Donald Robertson - Doctoral student at the University of Strathclyde.
42:16 Water and Sanitation Conflict, Esther Chifuniro Mabedi - University of Dundee Africa Doctoral fellow
53:02 Water and Climate, Dr Kerr Adams - Hydro Nation Policy Officer, Hydronation International Centre
01:05:49 Project Update, Viktoria Nemeth - Water Witness
01:07:40 Report, James Kitt - Pump Aid
01:10:31 Q & A
01:28:23 Closing remarks, Stuart Brown - CEO SMP
