Suitable Zones for Groundwater Tapping Stations Using Geospatial Techniques in Morogoro Urban, Tanzania

Abstract

In recent years, Morogoro Urban has experienced significant water scarcity primarily due to rising demand and limited surface water runoff from mountain slopes. Groundwater, therefore, offers a sustainable alternative to the prevailing challenge. This paper uncovers suitable zones for groundwater tapping stations using a GIS-based weighted overlay analysis (WOA), and triangulation of data acquisition methods. Supervised classification and change detection analyses were carried out in thematic layers. The WOA available as a spatial analyst extension in ArcGIS 10.7 was performed to derive final maps depicting groundwater potential zones, and suitable locations for groundwater tapping stations. The results suggest that Morogoro Urban has three groundwater potential zones: high (21.5%), moderate (30.2%), and low (48.3%). Zones highly suitable for groundwater tapping stations occupy 14.4% of the area, while moderate and low suitability zones cover 55.6% and 30%, respectively. The high groundwater potential zones in Morogoro Urban are mainly influenced by land use and geological characteristics. Despite much of the area exhibiting moderate groundwater potential, the studied environment is still conducive for the development of groundwater tapping stations. It is recommended that groundwater development and management in Morogoro Urban be guided by an integrated approach that combines hydrogeological assessment with land-use planning. Town planners and river basin authorities may potentially use the current results as a source of information in planning and designating suitable areas for development of boreholes and wells.