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The major river in Ethiopia is the Blue Nile. However, most drinking water in Ethiopia comes from ground water, not rivers. Ethiopia has 12 river basins with an annual runoff volume of 122 billion m 3 of water and an estimated 2.6–6.5 billion m 3 of ground water potential.
Only a fraction of this potential has been harnessed so far, 1% at the beginning of the 21st century. In order to become the powerhouse of Africa, Ethiopia is actively exploiting its water resources by building dams, reservoirs, irrigation and diversion canals and hydropower stations. The benefits of the dams are not only limited to hydropower.
The lower the irrigation efficiency, the higher the losses. Although reasonably high irrigation efficiencies of 70% or more (i.e., losses of 30% or less) can occur with sophisticated techniques like sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation or by well-managed surface irrigation, in practice the losses are commonly in the order of 40% to 60% ...
The Main Ethiopian Rift is geologically active and susceptible to earthquakes. Hot springs and active volcanoes are found in its extreme east close to the Red Sea.Elsewhere, the land is subject to erosion, overgrazing, deforestation, and frequent droughts.
Agriculture (including irrigation, livestock, and aquaculture) is by far the largest water consumer, accounting for 69% of annual water withdrawals globally. Agriculture's share of total water use is likely to fall in comparison with other sectors, but it will remain the largest user overall in terms of both withdrawal and consumption.
Local girls from Babile (Ethiopia) fill plastic water containers at the area's main water source. Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of water-stressed countries of any other place on the planet and of an estimated 800 million people who live in Africa, 300 million live in a water stressed environment. [ 5 ]
The Awash basin is the most developed, utilized, abused, impacted, and most populous (over 15% or nearly 18.6 million out of 120 million) basin in Ethiopia. [6] Middle Awash is known for having both large- and small-scale irrigation, as well as agroindustry and sugar factories (Wenji, Methara, and Kesem Sugar factories). [8]
The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity (Amharic: የውሃ፣ መስኖና ኤሌትሪክ ሚኒስቴር) is an Ethiopian government department responsible for management of water resources, water supply and sanitation, irrigation and energy. It was established in 2010.