Developing a Water Allocation Planning Model for a Kenyan Sub-catchment: a Case Study of Awach Tende Sub-catchment.
Abstract
Water scarcity in Kenya is on the rise due to factors related to population growth and increase in human activities that cause depletion of natural resources, in this case water. The management of water as a resource in a sustainable manner is increasingly becoming a difficult issue for water managers in Kenya
The water allocation process is already complex and is further complicated by the fact that there is little or no strategic planning to cope with increasing demand, water scarcity and climate change at all levels of water resource management. The use of modelling tools is vital in simulating and analysing the consequences of alternative water allocation scenarios and guiding the decision-making process associated with water allocation. This study developed a model for the water allocation in Awach Tende Sub-catchment using the WEAP model. Different water allocation scenarios were analysed considering the different competing water demands in the catchment and the available surface water resource.
The main drivers of water allocation in the sub-catchment are water availability in time and space and the different water use demands. The water demand priorities are governed by existing water resource management rules. This study determined that the key allocation scenarios were a combination of (i) high population rate in the sub-catchment, (ii) the Kimira-Oluch Irrigation Scheme under different operational modalities and (iii) climate change.
Findings from the WEAP model revealed that River Awach Tende is able to meet the domestic, livestock and environmental water demands in the sub-catchment under different scenarios that are a variation of changes in the population. Water resource developments, depending on their extent increase the stress on the surface water resource. In the case of Awach Tende, the Oluch
xv
irrigation scheme can get a water supply provided the water consumption is below 30% irrigation efficiency of the design capacity of the intake weir. The findings from this study can be used to inform decisions to be made by water resource planners in Awach Tende and other similar sub catchments.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Subject
Water Allocation Planning ModelRights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
The following license files are associated with this item: