Mauritius is an independent island republic in the western Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The country includes the island of Mauritius, the island of Rodrigues to the east; the Agalega Islands to the north; and the Cargados Carajos Shoals to the northeast. The country has a total area of 2,040 sq km.
Most of the rivers in Mauritius spring from the Central Plateau and flow radially to the sea. Most of them are perennial. Water is also abstracted from about 350 rivers run off takes. Such off takes permit an average annual mobilization of 514 Mm3 of surface water.
There are five main aquifers of Mauritius. The annual groundwater recharge has been estimated at 390Mm3.Geological and hydro geological investigations have resulted in the drilling of about 900 boreholes of diameter ranging from 150 to 300 mm.
Internal renewable water resources (IRWR) include the average annual flow of rivers and the recharge of groundwater (aquifers) generated from endogenous precipitation--precipitation occurring within a country's borders. IRWR are measured in cubic kilometers per year (km /year). Since data were collected in different years for different countries, they may not be directly comparable.
Surface water produced internally includes the average annual flow of rivers generated from endogenous precipitation and base flow generated by aquifers. Surface water resources are usually computed by measuring or assessing total river flow occurring in a country on a yearly basis.
Groundwater recharge is the total volume of water entering aquifers within a country's borders from endogenous precipitation and surface water flow. Groundwater resources are estimated by measuring rainfall in arid areas where rainfall is assumed to infiltrate into aquifers. Where data are available, groundwater resources in humid areas have been considered as equivalent to the base flow of rivers.
Last Updated on: 20-04-2010
