Browsing by Author "Awandu, Willis"

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  • Publication
    Publication
    Chapter 9 - Assessment of groundwater quality in Vihiga County, Kenya
    (Elsevier, 2023-01-01) Kanda, Edwin Kimutai; Avulala, Minyade K.; Olendo, Emmy; Mukolwe, Micah M.; Awandu, Willis; Lutta, Valery O.; Ong'or (T), Basil; Khaemba, Alex W.
    Vihiga County does not have a sewerage system and therefore people rely on onsite sanitation system. Poorly designed and located on-site sanitation systems are potential threats to groundwater which is the main source of supply. Therefore, this study examined the water quality of dug wells located near pit latrines in the Sabatia sub-County in Vihiga County. Water samples were collected from 48 dug wells and both the physiochemical and bacteriological components of water were analyzed. Some of the physio-chemical parameters of water analyzed from the various dug-wells did not meet the national drinking water standards. The bacteriological analyses showed that the water was contaminated with total coliforms and fecal coliforms. The high values of fecal coliforms in the water samples could be attributed to the presence of the pit latrines and the sanitation around the dug-wells. The presence of these bacteriological indicators suggested that the water is harmful to human health if consumed untreated. Results show that three locations; Chavakali, North Maragoli, and Busali had higher water quality index as compared to the other three locations. Notably, we found that beyond a distance of about 30 m bacteriological variation of the water samples was insignificant. Achieving sustainable development goals on water for all is a mirage in the County if interventions are not put in place.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Status of Micro-Hydrokinetic River Technology Turbines Application for Rural Electrification in Africa
    (MDPI, 2022-11-28) Awandu, Willis; Ruff, Robin; Wiesemann, Jens-Uwe; Lehmann, Boris
    Energy accessibility, reliability and availability are key components of improved quality of life and human development in all spheres. As the United Nations’ SDG 7 calls for access to electricity for all by 2030, Africa still has a wide gap to fill as the statistics show that 85% of the population that will not have access to electricity is in Africa. As the world tries to wean itself off non-renewable energy and transition to green through use of renewable energy sources, hydropower energy remains at the heart of Africa for this venture. With majority of the rural population in Africa lacking electricity, there is need for a low-tech system that utilizes river flow to generate just enough energy for normal operation in these regions. Micro-hydrokinetic river turbine technology (µ-HRT), which offers less intermittency, can potentially contribute to sustainably electrifying Africa rural areas. The technology has been adopted by few countries worldwide, with limited comprehensive study in Africa even though the technology seems viable for use in African rivers. This paper reviewed the status of the µ-HRT applications in Africa and some of the barriers to its development. The study found out that the technology has not been vastly developed in Africa. Despite numerous barriers, the technology is simply a low-tech technology that requires the use of local resources and capacity building for its sustainability in terms of construction, operation and maintenance requirements. It is therefore recommended that R&D and field trials be conducted for its possible adoption.