Located in the heart of West Africa, between 9 degrees 20 minutes and 15 degrees North latitude and between 5 degrees 3 minutes West longitude and 2 degrees 30 minutes East longitude, Burkina Faso is a landlocked country with an area of 274,200 km². The climate, of the Sudano-Sahelian type, is characterized by considerable rainfall variations ranging from an average of 350 mm in the North (Sahelian climate) to 1000 mm in the South-West. Three (03) climatic zones can be distinguished:
the southern Sudanian zone: this zone has an average annual rainfall of between 900 and 1,200 mm, marked by a rainy season that can last up to 6 to 7 months (from May to October);
the northern Sudanian zone: it has an average annual rainfall of between 600 and 900 mm; the rainy season lasts 4 to 5 months (from June to October);
the Sahelian zone has an average annual rainfall of between 300 and 600 mm. The dry season lasts 7 to 9 months (October to June).
According to the 2001 report on the state of water resources, in an average year (for the last 40 years), rainfall (207 billion m3 ) generates surface runoff of 8.79 billion m3 (or 4.2%) and infiltration of 32 billion m3 (or 15.6%).
The use and management of water resources in Burkina Faso is carried out in a context of climate change marked by droughts and floods combined with increasing demand for water, degradation of water courses and reservoirs and water quality.
