Impact of rainfall variability on groundwater levels in Ruiru municipality, Kenya

Nyakundi, Rael Mong’ina; Makokha, Mary; Mwangi, Joseph; Obiero, Clifford Clement

doi:10.1080/20421338.2015.1085157

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Moreover, some studies demonstrate that contamination varies with season and a clear trend for fecal contamination appears to be more common during the wet season [20]. Several studies on the influence of rainfall variability on water resources in Africa (e.g., [21][22][23][24][25][26]) have been conducted, so far, information on the effects of seasonal and annual rainfall variability in rural water supply services is still lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and Annual Rainfall Variability and Their Impact on Rural Water Supply Services in the Wami River Basin, Tanzania

Twisa

Buchroithner

2019

Water

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In some parts of Africa, rainfall variability has resulted in widespread droughts and floods, thus posing a substantial challenge to water availability in rural areas, especially drinking water. Therefore, due to increasing water demands, increases in the population, and economic development, water supply systems are under constant stress. One of the critical uncertainties surrounding the effects of rainfall variability in Africa is the significant impact that it imposes on rural water supply services. The present study analyzes the trends in annual and seasonal rainfall time series in the Wami River Basin to see if there have been any significant changes in the patterns during the period 1983–2017 and how they affect the access to water supply services in rural areas. The study analyzes the trends of rainfall series of three stations using simple regression, Mann–Kendal Test and Sen’s Slope Estimator. The water point mapping datasets were analyzed considering seasonal variation. The analysis showed a statistically significant positive trend in annual rainfall at Kongwa and March–April–May (MAM) seasonal rainfall at Dakawa. The maximum increase in annual rainfall occurred at Kongwa (5.3 mm year−1) and for MAM seasonal data at Dakawa (4.1 mm year−1). Water points were found to be significantly affected by seasonal changes, both in terms of availability and quality of water. There also exists a strong relationship between rural water services and seasons.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and Annual Rainfall Variability and Their Impact on Rural Water Supply Services in the Wami River Basin, Tanzania

Twisa

Buchroithner

2019

Water

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“…During the droughts, excessive water is abstracted from the groundwater aquifers to cushion against the impacts of drought. Nairobi aquifer system have experienced significant water level decline, water quality change and depletion due to over-abstraction and exploitation to meet water demands posed by impact of climate change (Mogaka et al 2009;Mumma et al 2011;Nyakundi et al 2015;Okello et al 2015).…”

Section: Potential Impacts Of Climate Change On Groundwater Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of groundwater vulnerability assessment in Kenya

Rendilicha

2018

AS-ITJGW

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Groundwater represents 95% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater. The use of groundwater has significantly increased over the past 50 years and is expected to rise in future due to its high reliability during drought seasons, good quality, generally modest development costs and continuous depletion of surface water. Groundwater pollution is becoming a major threat to fresh groundwater availability and sustainability. The deteriorating groundwater quality and increasing contamination poses detrimental risk to human health and ecosystem in many ways, thereby necessitating the need to study the groundwater vulnerability assessment as a preventive strategy to protect the groundwater from surface pollution. The concept of groundwater vulnerability assessment is dated back in 1970s and applied in many developed countries as an environmental tool used for proper land use planning and decision making without jeopardizing groundwater quality. This paper is a detail review of available literature on the study of groundwater vulnerability assessment in Kenya. The paper revealed that, the vulnerability assessment concept has not been applied as a mechanism to prevent groundwater pollution, hence rarely used in guiding land use planning in Kenya. This review brings to limelight the importance of groundwater vulnerability assessment in management and protection of groundwater resources in Kenya.*Corresponding author; Email:guyesa2016@gmail.com Mobile: 0710953283.1. Soil, Water and Environmental Engineering Department Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

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“…Patle et al [8] found a 0.267 m yearly reduction in ground water level in Haryana's Karnal region (India). Nyakundi, et al [9] studied groundwater level variability in Ruiru, Kiambu county, Kenya, and discovered that rainfall variability had an impact on groundwater levels, with groundwater levels being low during the dry season and high during the rainy season.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Rainfall Variability on Groundwater Levels in Nzoia River Basin, Kenya

Odwori

2022

AJEE

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Groundwater is a critical supply of freshwater in Africa, providing safe drinking water near to where it is needed for homes, agricultural, and industrial uses. Due to the high vulnerability of surface water resources to anthropogenic activities and climate change, groundwater consumption has increased dramatically over the last 50 years and is likely to continue rising in future. This study examines the effect of rainfall variability on groundwater levels using rainfall and groundwater level fluctuation data from Nzoia River Basin, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Three counties were randomly selected from the basin for study with Busia representing the lower catchment, Kakamega middle catchment and Trans Nzoia upper catchment. Groundwater is the main drinking water resource in the basin supplying 78.8% of the population. Knowledge of long-term rainfall variability and the associated response of the basin’s groundwater resources are essential for efficient and sustainable groundwater management. Despite the relatively short period for which water level records are available, these records contain valuable information that can be used beneficially in the development of strategies to assist in the responsible management of our limited groundwater resources. Rainfall and groundwater levels were analysed using the parametric test of linear regression and the non-parametric Mann–Kendall statistical test. Rainfal data for this study was obtained from the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) and the Groundwater levels from Kenya Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA). Pearson moment correlation was used to check the relationship between monthly rainfall and monthly groundwater levels. Correlations between groundwater levels and rainfall will help assess aquifer vulnerability to climate change in the basin. Our results indicate that rainfall variability induced by climate change has greatly impacted groundwater levels in the basin. Annual groundwater levels have been steadly falling at the rate between 0.03 ft/year (Kakamega Tande School) and 0.49 ft/year (Kitale Golf Club) in the basin. Annual rainfall over the basin has shown stations recording both decreasing and increasing trends. The falling groundwater level trends indicate a cause for concern and provide a scientific basis for the national and county governments in the basin to strategize on ground water development and management for sustainable water use.

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Impact of rainfall variability on groundwater levels in Ruiru municipality, Kenya

Cited by 16 publications

References 1 publication

Seasonal and Annual Rainfall Variability and Their Impact on Rural Water Supply Services in the Wami River Basin, Tanzania

Seasonal and Annual Rainfall Variability and Their Impact on Rural Water Supply Services in the Wami River Basin, Tanzania

A review of groundwater vulnerability assessment in Kenya

Effect of Rainfall Variability on Groundwater Levels in Nzoia River Basin, Kenya

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