Water Supply

Permanent URI for this collection

https://repository.nrf.go.ke/handle/123456789/22

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 33

Where is the source? Water sources for non-resident students at the University of Kabianga, Kenya
(WJARR, 2024) Ndaku,Nkonge J; Ngetich, Job K; Sietinei, Anne
The immense increase in residential developments around universities to provide private accommodation for the rapidly growing population of university students has constrained providing a safe, clean, and sufficient water supply. The Kenyan Constitution protects everyone`s fundamental right to access adequate water. However, the reality for nonresident students at the University of Kabianga (UoK) is far from their entitlements by the Kenyan Constitution. This project aims at establishing the sources of water available for non-resident students of the UoK. To achieve this, the study employed an exploratory approach that employed a descriptive survey. Its target population was the non-resident students (673 students) of the UoK, from whom a sample size of 250 students was selected. Simple random sampling was used in selecting the participants, while purposive random sampling was utilized to choose the study's private hostels (15 Hostels). The tools for data collection included questionnaires, key informant interviews, and an observation guide. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics. Findings obtained from the study revealed that most respondents (68%) relied on rainwater during the rainy season. However, most students (46%) relied on wells/boreholes, while 44% relied on private vendors during the dry season. In addition, majority of the respondents (61%), the available sources of water were not safe for drinking. In terms of challenged faced by the respondents in accessing water, time wastage while trying to access water was stated to be the main challenge (78%) as this highly affected their studies. Taken together, the study show that the water sources are unreliable, and this may not satisfy the demands of water in the area. The findings of this study will provide a basis for the provision of a sustainable water supply of adequate quality to non-resident students` hostels at the University of Kabianga and inform the stakeholders of appropriate measures that should be put in place to ensure adequate water supply to their tenants.
Household Water Handling Practices in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya
(2019-04-13) Kurui, Edith J.; Ogendi, George M.; Nyawanga, Wilkister N. Moturi and Dishon O.; Kurui, Edith J.; Ogendi, George M.; Nyawanga, Wilkister N. Moturi and Dishon O.
Utilisation of water from unimproved water sources coupled with inadequate access to sanitation can adversely affect human health. This study undertaken from November 2014 to March, 2015 sought to assess the household water handling practices and relate them to the prevalent diseases in Baringo Central and South, Kenya. A Household sanitary survey was conducted and questionnaires were administered to 100 household heads within the study area. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that 72% of the households (n = 100) collected water for cooking and drinking from the water pans. Only 34% of the households treated water commonly using boiling (19%), filtration with cloth (2%), chlorine (11%) before using it for drinking. There was a positive correlation between methods used in accessing water from drinking water storage containers and water related diseases prevalent in the study area (p < 0.05). Household drinking water in the study area did not meet the WHO drinking water quality guidelines mainly due to poor handling practices at the household level. There is a need to promote water, sanitation and hygiene campaigns in the study area to prevent water related diseases at the household level.
First record of dwarf Victorian mouthbrooder Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae (Schöller, 1903) in Lake Naivasha, Kenya, including data on its molecular identification: Management implications
(John Wiley & Sons ltd, 2018-09-30) Otachi, Elick O.; Rindoria, Nehemiah M.; Medhanit, Meri M.; Ayeka, Peter A.; Wąs-Barcz, Anna
The present study describes the first record of 83 Dwarf Victorian mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae Seegers, 2000) newly discovered in Lake Naivasha, Kenya, in January 2016. Membership of the species was determined on the basis of morphometric characteristics and molecular analysis. The average length (±SD) of the fish was 6.95 ± 0.86 cm, and average weight was 5.59 ± 1.99 g. The body is normal/fusiform, the dorsal head profile convex-shaped, the mouth is terminal with bright blue lips, and the anal fin with a reddish tip, being distinctive features of the fish. The sequences of subunit I cytochrome oxidase (COI) and cytochrome b (cyt b) genes obtained in the present study were compared with records deposited in BoldSystem and NCBI databases. Using two genetic markers enabled unambiguous determination of the species membership. The queried specimen was assigned to the Cichlidae family, as Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae (100–96.68% similarity). These results constitute the baseline study for this fish in Lake Naivasha.
Effects of Population Growth on Urban Extent and Supply of Water and Sanitation: Case of Nakuru Municipality, Kenya
(Macrothink institute, 2018-01-08) Muoria, Elizabeth W.; Moturi, Wilkister N.; Eshiamwata, George W.
Urbanization causes changes in social and environmental conditions with most of these changes impacting on the efficient provision of essential services such as water and sanitation. Nakuru Municipality was observed to be the fastest growing urban area in East and Central Africa. Research on patterns and trends of urban and population increase and their implication on water service provision and sanitation in urban Nakuru is very scanty. This paper presents findings from an assessment of the effects of population growth between 1999 and 2017 on urban extent and supply of water and sewage reticulation in Nakuru municipality and surrounding peri-urban areas. Data was collected through remote sensing and administration of questionnaires to urban Nakuru residents and key informants from NAWASSCO respectively to elicit information on the water supply network and sewerage reticulation in Nakuru municipality for the period 1989-2014. Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to analyze the data on time series. The results indicate that the population of Nakuru municipality and surrounding peri-urban areas has increased by 56.8% whereas that of built-up area has increased by 182.5% in the same period through densification of the urban core and expansion to the peri-urban areas characterized by urban sprawl. The water supply network and sewerage reticulation increased by 236km and 89km respectively within Nakuru municipality. The analysis of the maps shows that water supply network and sewerage reticulation are concentrated in the area around the urban core with very little spread. This means that the residents on the outskirts of Nakuru Municipality are not well served by the water supply network and sewerage reticulation. The study recommends involvement of all stakeholders in urban planning and in the water sector in order to increase water supply network and sewerage reticulation coverage both in the urban and peri-urban areas.
REAL-TIME MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY IN LAKE NAKURU USING WIRELESS SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
(Egerton University, 2022-04-01) Manene, Franklin
Water quality monitoring in a water body is necessary to determine the major pollutants and their temporal variations. This in essence leads to informed decision-making on the appropriate mitigation measures and to determine the effectiveness of the existing water quality control measures. In this paper, a Low power communication technology for wide area networks (LORAWAN) is applied to connect sensor nodes to collect real-time data on Lake Nakuru waters. The system consists of sensors, a wireless sensor node, a communication network, and data visualization and cloud storage. The various sensors connected to the sensor node sense environmental parameters such as temperature, electric conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The wireless sensor node is deployed in a floating buoy on the lake and is powered by a solar panel. It sends the data to the gateway over the long range at a very low data rate with low power consumption. The cloud server applications such as Things network together with Thingsspeak are employed to receive, present, and store measured data.
COVID-19 pandemic: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as a critical control measure remains a major challenge in low-income countries
(2021-03-01) Donde, Oscar Omondi; Atoni, Evans; Muia, Anastasia Wairimu; Yillia, Paul T.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the deadly respiratory disease called coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), an ongoing global public health emergency that has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. We review literature on the transmission and control of SARS-CoV-2 and discuss the challenges of focusing on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as critical control measures in low-income countries. A significantly higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 related deaths has been reported for the United States of America and other high-income countries in Europe and Asia, regardless of advanced medical facilities in those countries. In contrast, much lower COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality rates have been documented in many low-income countries, despite having comparatively higher socioeconomic burdens and suboptimal medical facilities. By September 29, 2020 over one million deaths have been reported. On the same day, the cumulative total of COVID-19 related morbidity for Africa was 35,954 with 3.5% of the global COVID-19 related deaths. We present arguments for the relatively low COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates in many low-income countries and discuss the critical importance of WASH for preventing the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19. We observe that the key recommendations put forward by the World Health Organization to effectively control the pandemic have been difficult to implement in low-income countries. We conclude that the pandemic reinforces previous pronouncements that adequate and effective WASH measures are crucial for public health and recommend closer coordination between public health and WASH sectors.
Assessing Future Water Demand and Associated Energy Input with Plausible Scenarios for Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021-04-13) Macharia, Pauline; Kitaka, Nzula; Yillia, Paul; Kreuzinger, Norbert
This study examined the current state of water demand and associated energy input for water supply against a projected increase in water demand in sub-Saharan Africa. Three plausible scenarios, namely, Current State Extends (CSE), Current State Improves (CSI) and Current State Deteriorates (CSD) were developed and applied using nine quantifiable indicators for water demand projections and the associated impact on energy input for water supply for five Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Kenya to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach based on real data in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, the daily per capita water-use in the service area of four of the five WSPs was below minimum daily requirement of 50 L/p/d. Further, non-revenue water losses were up to three times higher than the regulated benchmark (range 26–63%). Calculations showed a leakage reduction potential of up to 70% and energy savings of up to 12 MWh/a. The projected water demand is expected to increase by at least twelve times the current demand to achieve universal coverage and an average daily per capita consumption of 120 L/p/d for the urban population by 2030. Consequently, the energy input could increase almost twelve-folds with the CSI scenario or up to fifty-folds with the CSE scenario for WSPs where desalination or additional groundwater abstraction is proposed. The approach used can be applied for other WSPs which are experiencing a similar evolution of their water supply and demand drivers in sub-Saharan Africa. WSPs in the sub-region should explore aggressive strategies to jointly address persistent water losses and associated energy input. This would reduce the current water supply-demand gap and minimize the energy input that will be associated with exploring additional water sources that are typically energy intensive.
Can Sanitary Surveys Replace Water Quality Testing? Evidence from Kisii, Kenya
(MDPI, 2017-02-07) Misati, Aaron Gichaba; Ogendi, George; Peletz, Rachel; Khush, Ranjiv; Kumpel, Emily
Information about the quality of rural drinking water sources can be used to manage their safety and mitigate risks to health. Sanitary surveys, which are observational checklists to assess hazards present at water sources, are simpler to conduct than microbial tests. We assessed whether sanitary survey results were associated with measured indicator bacteria levels in rural drinking water sources in Kisii Central, Kenya. Overall, thermotolerant coliform (TTC) levels were high: all of the samples from the 20 tested dug wells, almost all (95%) of the samples from the 25 tested springs, and 61% of the samples from the 16 tested rainwater harvesting systems were contaminated with TTC. There were no significant associations between TTC levels and overall sanitary survey scores or their individual components. Contamination by TTC was associated with source type (dug wells and springs were more contaminated than rainwater systems). While sanitary surveys cannot be substituted for microbial water quality results in this context, they could be used to identify potential hazards and contribute to a comprehensive risk management approach.
Effect of Socio-economic Factors on Access to Improved Water Sources and Basic Sanitation in Bomet Municipality, Kenya
(Semantic Scholar, 2013-12-20) Koskei, E.C.; Koskei, R.C.; Koske, M.C.; Koech, H.K.
The study presents data collected in an assessment on the effects of socioeconomic factors on access to improved water sources and basic sanitation in Bomet municipality. Bomet municipality is one of the areas in Kenya where water borne diseases such as intestinal worms, diarrhea and bilharzia are most prevalent. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and access to improved water and basic sanitation. A Multi-stage random sampling method was used to obtain the sample. The questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. Analysis of data was done using the SPSS. Chi-Square test at 5% level of significance was used to analyze socioeconomic factors that determined household access to improved water and sanitation. The findings show that households' characteristics such as occupation and education level of the household head have a strong impact on the type of water source used by household as indicated by significance level of 0.01. The study also confirms that the type of toilet facility used by household was significantly influenced by the marital status of household head as indicated by significance level of 0.02. There is need for inclusive growth, basic education and women empowerment in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Vulnerability of Kenya’s Water Towers to Future Climate Change: An Assessment to Inform Decision Making in Watershed Management | CoLab
(Scientific Research, 2020-09-03) Mwangi K.K., Musili A.M., Otieno V.A., Endris H.S., Sabiiti G., Hassan M.A., Tsehayu A.T., Guleid A., Atheru Z., Guzha A.C., Meo T.D., Smith N., Makanji D.L., Kerkering J., Doud B., Kanyanya E
Recent trends show that in the coming decades, Kenya’s natural resources will continue to face significant pressure due to both anthropogenic and natural stressors, and this will have greater negative impacts on socio-economic development including food security and livelihoods. Understanding the impacts of these stressors is an important step to developing coping and adaptation strategies at every level. The Water Towers of Kenya play a critical role in supplying ecosystems services such as water supply, timber and non-timber forest products and regulating services such as climate and water quantity and quality. To assess the vulnerability of the Water Towers to climate change, the study adopted the IPCC AR4 framework that defines vulnerability as a function of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The historical trends in rainfall indicate that the three Water Towers show a declining rainfall trend during the March-April-May (MAM) main rainy season, while the October-November-December (OND) short rainy season shows an increase. The temperature patterns are consistent with the domain having a common rising trend with a rate in the range of 0.3°C to 0.5°C per decade. Projection analysis considered three emissions scenarios: low-emission (mitigation) scenario (RCP2.6), a medium-level emission scenario (RCP4.5), and a high-emission (business as usual) scenario (RCP8.5). The results of the high-emission scenario show that the annual temperature over the Water Towers could rise by 3.0°C to 3.5°C by the 2050s (2036-2065) and 3.6°C to 4.8°C by the 2070s (2055-2085 results not presented), relative to the baseline period 1970-2000. The findings indicate that exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity vary in magnitude, as well as spatially across the Water Towers. This is reflected in the spatially variable vulnerability index across the Water Towers. Overall vulnerability will increase in the water towers leading to erosion of the resilience of the exposed ecosystems and the communities that rely on ecosystem services these landscapes provide.
Optimization of rainwater harvesting system design for smallholder irrigation farmers in Kenya
(IWA Publishing, 2021-04-15) Odhiambo, Kevin O.; Iro Ong'or, Basil T.; Kanda, Edwin K.
The adverse effects of climate change on agriculture have been felt across the globe. Smallholder farmers in sub-Sahara Africa are particularly more vulnerable to the effects of climate change leading to loss of income and livelihood thus affecting global food security. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is emerging as a viable option to mitigate the negative effects of climate change by supporting rain-fed agriculture through supplemental irrigation. However, smallholder farmers are still grappling with a myriad of challenges hindering them from reaping the benefits of their investment in RWH systems. This review explores some of the factors behind the poor performance of RWH systems in Kenya and also seeks to suggest techniques that can be applied to optimize the design parameters for improved performance and the adoption of RWH systems. According to the review, RWH has the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change among smallholder farmers. It allows for crop production beyond the growing season through supplemental irrigation. However, their impacts have been minimal due to the consistent poor performance of RWH systems. This is attributed to inefficiencies in design and construction brought about by lack of required technical skills among RWH system designers and implementers. Proper design and implementation are therefore paramount for better performance and adoption of RWH systems in the region. This will ensure that RWH systems are reliable, technically and economically feasible as well as possess a desirable water-saving efficiency.
Soil water dynamics under Moistube irrigation
(Elsevier, 2020) Kanda, Edwin Kimutai; Senzanje, Aidan; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe
The design and management of irrigation systems require knowledge of soil water movement. There are few studies on soil water dynamics of Moistube irrigation (MTI) since it is a relatively new type of subsurface irrigation technology. It was hypothesised that soil texture influences soil water distribution under MTI. We determined soil water distribution, experimentally and numerically, using HYDRUS 2D/3D model for two soil textures (loamy sand and sandy clay loam). The experiment consisted of a soil box filled with soil and Moistube, supplied with water under a constant pressure head of 60 kPa, placed at 20 cm below the soil surface. Soil water content (SWC) was measured using Decagon MPS-2 sensors installed at depths of 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm and 50 cm and laterally at 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm over a period of 72 h. Results showed that simulated SWC closely matched (R2 ≥ 0.70 and RMSE ≤ 0.045 cm3 cm−3) observed values for all depths considered for the two soil textures. The model slightly under- or over-estimated SWC (<15.6%). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the soil water distribution in lateral and downward direction for both sandy clay loam soil and loamy sand. However, the SWC upward of the Moistube placement depth was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than both lateral and downward. SWC in loamy sand at 10 cm upward, downward and lateral after 24 h were 0.08 cm3 cm−3, 0.23 cm3 cm−3 and 0.20 cm3 cm−3, respectively. The corresponding values for sandy clay loam were 0.28 cm3 cm−3, 0.32 cm3 cm−3 and 0.31 cm3 cm−3 at 10 cm upward, downward and lateral, respectively. The simulations for wetted distance in both soil textures were also close to the observed values (R2 ≥ 0.97, RMSE ≤ 3.99 cm). Soil texture had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on soil water movement with upward movement faster in sandy clay loam than in loamy sand. The lateral and downward distances were 23 cm and 24.6 cm, respectively, for loamy sand after 24 h. Similarly, for sandy clay loam, the lateral and downward distance was 19 cm. These wetting distances should be considered in the design of MTI in terms of depth of placement and lateral spacing. The results of this study demonstrated the usefulness of HYDRUS-2D/3D model in the prediction of soil water movement for optimum design of MTI.
Hydraulic and clogging characteristics of Moistube irrigation as influenced by water quality
(IWA, 2018-06-12) Kanda, Edwin Kimutai; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Senzanje, Aidan
Irrigation consumes approximately 70% of total freshwater use worldwide. This necessitates the use of efficient irrigation methods such as micro-irrigation. Moistube irrigation (MI) is a new subsurface irrigation technology where the water emits from a semi-permeable membrane of the Moistube at a slow rate depending on the applied pressure and soil water potential. There is currently limited information on the performance of Moistube tapes with respect to discharge as a function of pressure or water quality. The aim of this study was to determine the flow characteristics of Moistube tapes as a function of pressure and the effect of suspended and dissolved solids on the emission characteristics. The pressure–discharge relationship was determined within a range of 20 kPa and 100 kPa. The clogging of the Moistube was determined using water containing low, moderate and high concentrations of suspended and dissolved solids at 20 kPa and 30 kPa. The results indicated that the Moistube discharge follows a power function with the applied pressure. The discharge decreased linearly over time because of clogging. Suspended solids had a more severe clogging effect on Moistube than dissolved solids. The results of this study should help in the design, operation and maintenance of MI systems.
The Effect of Consultant Related and External Factors on Completion of Water Projects in Kakamega County, Kenya
(International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research, 2016-09) Kanda, Edwin; Muchelule, Yusuf; Mamadi, Simon; Musiega, Douglas
Abstract Inability to complete projects is among the challenges faced in the course of executing construction projects. The most widely used project success criterion is meeting time, quality and cost requirements. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of consultant related and external factors on completion of water projects in Kakamega County, Kenya. The instrument of data collection was questionnaires. The target population consisted of 104 employees working for two water projects in Mumias and Lugari both in management and lower levels. Simple random sampling was used to select 90 who formed the sample size out of which, 74 respondents returned the questionnaires representing 82% response rate. Analysis of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics using correlation and regression. Consultant related factors considered included experience, skilled personnel, coordination, site supervision and decision-making ability and they had a significantly fairly strong positive relationship with project completion ( r = 0.583, p < 0.05). External factors of political interference, industrial action, regulation, taxation and material unavailability in the market had a weak but significant positive relationship (r = 0.312, p < 0.05) with project completion. The overall regression model gave R2 of 0.409. This showed that that the variations around the means in consultant related and external factors is about 41%.Key words: Kakamega County, consultant related factors, external factors, project cost, project completion time and project quality
The role of women in generating data for environmental sustainability discourse - a water governance approach
(Africa Journals Online, 2018) Walubwa, Jacqueline A.
‘Leave no one behind’ is the overarching Sustainable Development Goal motto for the world development order in the 21st century. SDG 5 roots for gender equality and inclusivity thus recognising women as part of the global citizens who are active doers in their environment as they form 50.1 per cent of the sub-Saharan Africa population. They thus have a role in generating data for their well-being. African scholarship has been wrought by a lack of city-wide data and especially gender specific data. This paper explores the role of women who live in informal settlements in producing environmental data about water specific items therein. It will go further to explore their representation in the governance processes. The methodology used in this paper is an exploration of water governance studies carried out in Nairobi’s (Kenya) informal settlements to analyse what kind of data women generate, their perceptions and how significant this data is in the policy making process. It uses both ethnographic and cross disciplinary action research and suggests that women have a near perfect lack of representation in data generation whilst recommending the need for them to be actively involved and included in the sustainability discourse all the while using the correct terminology as boundary terms.Keywords: Governance, Environmental Sustainability, Women, Informal Settlements, Africa
Rendering local commons sustainable : an informal water and sanitation context
(Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd, 2019-03-01) A. Walubwa, Jacqueline
Governing common property suggests that strict governance systems be put in place to sustainably and resiliently ensure that institutions have a long-standing tenure. The outcomes of each institution vary depending on the collective action bestowed and the local arrangements. The action is highly dependent on the rational choice of the community actors, who strategically choose to see that their cooperative behaviours will act to the advantage of their common property. This can only occur in a climate of trust and reciprocity in polycentric systems which are self-governed. This paper suggests using Ostrom’s design principles to govern local, human-made common property and further proposes the features that make for resilient informal systems. This theory is tested using an informal water and sanitation system as well as reviewing literature from second generation scholars.
'Kenya slum upgrading programme 'An anaysis of Kibera intergrated water, sanitation and waste management project
(University of Nairobi Research Archive, 2010) Walubwa, Jacqueline
Kenya has experienced rapid urbanization which has brought about many challenges, one of them being slum proliferation. This brings with it poor infrastructure delivery and a challenge in water and sanitation provision. Kenya, seeking to improve the lives of 5.3 million slum dwellers by 2020 (Kenya 2005) has set up a nationwide intervention in the slum areas. Kibera being one of the largest slum areas in Kenya was chosen as the pilot intervention site. This study was carried out in one of its villages- Soweto East- to determine the impact of the pilot intervention project (Kibera Integrated Water, Sanitation and Waste Management Project, K-WATSAN) being implemented by the Kenya Government and the UN HABITAT. Its main objective was to analyze the impact of the K-WATSAN intervention on the livelihoods of the residents. To achieve this objective the study utilized both secondary and primary sources of data and conducted a field study whereby questionnaires were administered in two villages- Lindi and Soweto East. The former acted as a control village as it had no intervention. Interview data was captured from selected respondents and was used to evaluate the livelihood, access to water and sanitation and community participation in the project. Content analysis and explotary data analysis were used to analyze the data using statistical tools of descriptive measures and methods of central tendencies; further statistical analysis on some selected variables was carried out to analyze the intervention's impact. The results indicated that K-WATSAN project has had a positive impact on the lives of the Soweto East residents in terms of; improved access to water and sanitation situation; improved accessibility and environmental conditions; improved sources of income and 'livelihoods security.The project has also achieved its aim of encouraging community participation in capacity building, empowerment and training of community members through the various trainings and Youth Empowerment Programme present in the settlement. The principles of inclusion, partnerships and sustainability have been reinforced through greater awareness, participation and partnerships in slum improvement. The study thus concluded that K-WATSAN project has had a positive impact in Soweto East and recommended embracing of community participation and proper governance mechanisms for any successful slum intervention on access to water and sanitation.
My Water, My Choice! The Role of Citizens in Ensuring Equitable Access to Water in Soweto East Village—Nairobi
(Research Gate, 2016-01) Walubwa, Jacqueline
The chapter highlights the local governance structure of disenfranchised citizens and their role in self-mobilization to enforce democratic innovations in governing their water resources, an important issue confronting the governing of urban Africa. In the wake of lack of accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals, these failures manifest themselves in the form of competition for urban services with an increasingly high rate of inequality between planned and unplanned settlements, further depicting a lack of leadership in policy implementation and political goodwill of the governance systems in upholding the sustainability agenda. Ethnographic surveys and interviews were used to acquire information relevant to the study and indicate that citizen empowerment is a panacea to development.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF HARVESTED WATER RUNOFF IN MARIGAT DIVISION, KENYA
(University of Eldoret, 2015-10) Magut, Rebecca Jebet
Water is vital to basic livelihoods and economic growth. Marigat division, Baringo County, Kenya experiences water scarcity during the dry periods, a situation that is further aggravated by droughts and erratic rains. During the rainy seasons, a lot of water is lost as runoff which can be harvested and stored in water reservoirs and used for domestic and livestock throughout the dry seasons. This study seeks to identify the source, the reliability of water sources, investigate the willingness of the community to participate in harnessing water runoff, determine suitable sites of water pans for harvesting runoff water to meet Marigat‟s water demand and propose a water supply network for the Marigat community. The study adopts a survey research design. The study was based on systems theory of planning, where smaller components interrelate within and at their hierarchical level. The sampling procedure was based on stratified random sampling size of 383 household heads and 10 key informants. Questionnaires were distributed to the household heads using stratified random sampling while interview schedule were used to obtain information from Focus Group Discussions and key informants. Data was cleaned, coded and entered into SPSS and analysis conducted as per the objectives. Weighted overlay suitability analysis within Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to site the potential sites of water reservoirs, weightings were assigned to each criterion depending upon their relative significance. Water Evaluation and Planning System model (WEAP 21) was used to determine whether the water to be harvested was able to meet the Marigat community‟s water demand thus, a scenario was built from the reference scenario; Creation of new water pans. The results of the reference scenario were validated using observed flows at Marigat Bridge station and WEAP 21 was also used to come up with a water supply network. The research findings indicated that the main source of water in Marigat was surface water from the river. The water sources were not reliable and they are sparse. In addition, the Marigat community has the willingness to harness water runoff and there was significant association between water scarcity and willingness to contribute to the harvesting of water runoff. The results show that with the creation of proposed five new water pans for harvesting runoff in areas facing water scarcity, the unmet domestic and livestock water demand is met up to 2020. There are suitable sites for construction of water pans in the study area. Some of the organizations involved in efforts to avail enough water resources to the Marigat community are: The World Vision, Marigat Child and Care Program (MCPF), Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) and Kenya Rainwater Association. The study will add to the body of knowledge on water resources planning and management skill to alleviate the problem of water shortage especially in dry areas like the study area.
Vulnerability Assessment of Sustainable Drinking Water Supply and Development in a Changing Climate in Nakuru Town, Kenya
(East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources, 2019-12-24) Keli, Margaret Mwikali; Munyao, Thomas Mutuku; Kipkorir, Emmanuel C.; Shakala, Edward Kokan
The close connection between the climate and the hydrological cycle makes climate change to have a significant impact on water resources with regard to variability, distribution and occurrence. Research wise, climate change has assumed increasing importance from the perspective of development compared to the water environment. In Kenya, key water-related issues facing the country are the effects of climate variability and the steady degradation of the nation’s water resources. Limited research has focused on alleviating the problem as the effects of the water crisis remain wider, deeper and more uncertain requiring immediate attention. Major indicators of existing problems are manifested in lack of information and knowledge on climate-induced changes under natural variability conditions in drinking water regimes, quality, quantity, human health and likely future changes. The study uses a scientific approach based on hydrological analysis focusing on the link between changing climate conditions and drinking water quality and supply issues in Nakuru Municipality. Primary data collection employed measurement and analysis of selected inorganic drinking water quality variables with significant risk to health in the area’s local natural conditions. To explore short and long-term trends of climatic change indicators and their effect on the area’s hydrology, statistical trend analysis of rainfall for a period of 45 years was used. Temperature data used covered a period of 36 years. Water samples were taken to represent important water source points for public supply for ten months (June 2014 to March 2015) and analysed in accordance with standard methods. Data were analysed by trend analysis, descriptive and correlation techniques. Strong, weak and negative trends were observed between water quality variables and rainfall variability. Results show that temporal and spatial variability of rainfall patterns and temperature in the area of study affect surface and groundwater recharge processes, water table, quality, quantity and supply issues. According to the study, the effects of drinking water crisis linked to climate variability and change in terms of prediction methods, frequency, and rate of change, quality and quantity are wider, deeper and more uncertain requiring immediate attention. The existing challenges limit sustainable development, effective long-term planning and management of the areas drinking water resources. The results can be valuable in characterizing and addressing the study area’s water quality conditions and trends.

Browse

Recent Submissions