Jean, C.C.Cassidy, R.Obando, Joy ApiyoRobins, N.Ibrahim, K.Melchioly, S.Mjemah, I.Shauri, H.Bourhane, A.Mohamed, I.Noe, C.Mwega, B.Makokha, M.Join, J.Banton, O.Davies, J.2016-11-292016-11-292016Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 5 (2016) 179–199http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/15194Research articleStudy region: Coastal areas of Kenya (Kilifi County), Tanzania (Kilwa district) and Comoros(Ngazidja island), East Africa.Study focus: Research aimed to understand the physical and societal drivers of groundwa-ter accessibility and identify critical aspects of groundwater access and knowledge gapsthat require further monitoring and research. Interdisciplinary societal, environmental andhydrogeological investigations were consistently undertaken in the three areas consid-ered as exemplars of the diversity of the coastal fringes of the wider region. This paperfocuses on the hydrogeological outcomes of the research, framed within the principalsocio-environmental issues identified.New hydrological insights: Results confirm the fundamental importance of coastal ground-water resources for the development of the region and the urgent need to matchgroundwater development with demographic and economic growth. Hydrogeologicalknowledge is fragmented, groundwater lacks a long-term monitoring infrastructure andinformation transfer from stakeholders to users is limited. Current trends in demog-raphy, climate, sea-level and land-use are further threatening freshwater availability.Despite possessing high-productivity aquifers, water quality from wells and boreholes isgenerally impacted by saltwater intrusion. Shallow large-diameter wells, following the tra-ditional model of these areas, consistently prove to be less saline and more durable thandeeper small-diameter boreholes. However, promoting the use of large numbers of shallowenGroundwaterCoastal aquiferEastern AfricaEnvironmental changeGovernanceCommunity engagementArticle