Water Harvesting for Small Communities in Kenya
Freshwater is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity in many regions, and the East African region is not exempted. Indeed, water resource availability and management are issues of increasing importance for many Kenyans. Despite concerted efforts by the government, citizens, and national bodies, access to freshwater remains a big concern. Moreover, the rapid population growth, coupled with increasing urbanization, has continued to stress the available water resources in the country. Indeed, there is a growing concern over the future supply of water in the country, which has created a lot of debate. Rainfall has proven to be an unstable and non-reliable source of freshwater due to the changing climatic and weather patterns. Even dry spells amid rainy seasons can also cause dire consequences as entire drought seasons. As a result, there is a growing outcry for alternative sources of freshwater, more so in the rural areas where there is an overdependence on agriculture. In arid areas, even a small reduction in precipitation can cause dire consequences. In these regions, water is needed more than ever, to prevent crop failure, and satisfy water needs during the drier seasons. For instance, in 2011, drought and famine harassed the northern Kenya region, attracting a lot of international attention and concern. All these vulnerabilities create a dire impact on the food and economic security of many Kenyans.
Kenya, an already water-scarce country according to some reports by USAID, has minimal freshwater supplies. In fact, according to estimates by the agency, the country has just over 600 cubic meters of water per person, and the forecast is expected to decrease due to increasing droughts and population growth. Already, more than half of Kenya is considered arid or semi-arid, with large portions deemed unfit for agricultural purposes, and many farmers in the country are reliant on rainwater. Adding to this is the continued deforestation and encroachment of water catchment areas, which has limited water flow into rivers. Considering all these factors, it is only prudent that an alternative source of accessing, collecting, or storing water be considered. One of these is rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater collecting in the collection, conveyance, and storage of rainwater for its intended use, such as for domestic purposes, in biomass production, or for crops, trees, and pasture. As a practice that is as old as human existence itself, rainwater harvesting is still a reliable and sustainable source of getting sustainable water needs. Indeed, water storage remains incredibly low in many regions of the country, and water storage has decreased significantly over the years.
Rainwater harvesting techniques in Kenya
There are traditional as well as modern techniques of harvesting rainwater, which are both in use in Kenya. In assessing the conventional methods of harvesting rainwater, it is evident that the practice of rainwater harvesting dates back to thousands of years. Some of the conventional traditional techniques of water harvesting included: earth bunds and Zai pits. Earth bunds have been an important technique used by many agricultural communities in the Horn of Africa region, just as Zai pits for western African areas. It’s important to note that these traditional practices have been more pronounced in drier areas, where conservation of rainfall has been famous for the livelihood and survival of many communities.
On the other hand, modern techniques of preserving and harvesting rainwater are increasingly becoming more common in many regions of Kenya today. Some of these include rooftop water harvesting, the use of dams, pots and pans, the use of areas with higher water tables, retention ditches, contour earth ridges, vegetative strips, among others. For instance, the use of rainwater harvesting tanks has gained increased popularity among Kenyans, and it is not uncommon to find many cement, or plastic tanks in many Kenyan households. In the case of cement tanks, some are constructed above or below the ground and have been considered a secure, reliable, convenient, and secure source of water. This water is primarily used for domestic purposes such as washing, drinking, or cooking. In extreme cases of drought, some families may preserve the rainwater exclusively for drinking, and use other sources of the water for other activities.
Sustainability of Water harvesting techniques in Kenya
A large plastic or cement tank may store a considerable amount of rainwater, but it also raises the issues of sustainability. For how long is the tank water likely to last? During prolonged drought, for instance, a 10,000-liter tank is expected to continue a family of 10 for a month at most. Therefore, sustainability is an important consideration when discussing water harvesting. A sustainable source of water harvesting is that which can be successfully maintained, without compromising the needs of future generations.
Indeed, rainwater harvesting techniques have faced significant challenges, with sustainability being a key concern. For instance, many cement tanks have continued to degenerate, others cracking or collapsing altogether, and become utterly dysfunctional after some time. Many projects have been short-lived. Moreover, the problem of corruption in the country has meant the construction of water harvesting techniques of substandard quality, which do not last long In certain instances, anticipated water harvesting sites are not constructed at all, such as the recent cases of Arror and Kimwarer dams, which have not been built in a corruption scandal. A lot of research is needed to determine the viability and the manner to create a standardization and certification process that ensures the quality of construction, maintenance, and operation of water harvesting techniques.