Modelling the water level of the alluvial aquifer of an ephemeral river in south-western Zimbabwe

Mpala, Sibonakaliso C.; Gagnon, Alexandre S.; Mansell, M. G.; Hussey, Stephen W.

doi:10.1080/02626667.2020.1750615

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Furthermore, water levels are shallow, reaching depths of often less than 1m, which reduces energy costs as compared to deeper groundwater. Also, evaporation losses are minimal as it is limited to the top layer of approximately 60cm (Mansell and Hussey, 2005;Mpala et al, 2020). Below this depth, losses are negligible, as opposed to reservoirs that are often shallow with high evaporation losses (Tuinhof and Heederik, 2002).…”

Section: Sand River Aquifers In Drylandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite these advantages, the scarce quantitative studies available imply an underutilisation of the water stored in these sand rivers in sub-Saharan Africa (Love et al, 2011;Walker et al, 2018;Mpala et al, 2020;Saveca et al, 2022). In (semi-)arid regions where other water resources are scarce, over-abstracted or even absent, sand rivers can provide a reliable alternative (Mansell and Hussey, 2005;Olufayo et al, 2010).…”

Section: Sand River Aquifers In Drylandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These natural storage systems are fully recharged annually when the river discharges after few rainfall events. Saturation of the sand layer occurs quickly after the river is submerged with floodwater (Mpala et al, 2020). Figure 2-1 shows a map of the study area as positioned within the Mzingwane catchment.…”

Section: Area Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shifting sands : Diversity and dynamics of farmer-led irrigation along sand rivers in Kenya and Zimbabwe

Duker

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This dissertation is dedicated to Ronald, Aline and Floor vii viii mechanics, tajiris, farm workers, fuel smugglers, traders, marketeers and random talkative people.I have not experienced my PhD study to be a lonely path. All the colleagues, friends and students I met on my way played a crucial role in this. First, those who had an important share in enabling my field work, especially during the crazy pandemic:

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Section: Sand River Aquifers In Drylandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sand River Aquifers In Drylandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shifting sands : Diversity and dynamics of farmer-led irrigation along sand rivers in Kenya and Zimbabwe

Duker

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Groundwater recharge influenced by ephemeral river flow and land use in the semiarid Limpopo Province of South Africa

Lindle,

Villholth,

Ebrahim

et al. 2023

Hydrogeol J

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Determining the sustainability of groundwater use in drylands with high climate variability is complex. Central to this determination is an understanding of groundwater recharge and associated processes and controls. Groundwater recharge in drylands can occur by diffuse and focused recharge (focused recharge being associated with intense episodic rainfall events and ephemeral river flow, predicted to increase and intensify with climate change). This study evaluated the relative significance and dominant controls on these two recharge processes. Ten groundwater hydrographs with multidecadal observations were collated from the Limpopo Province, South Africa, based on their proximity to river channels and rain gauges, representing diversity in local climate, landscape, vegetation, and hydrogeological conditions. The hydrographs showed that groundwater-level rises are sensitive to rainfall intensity during the rainy season, with generally larger increases after years with large episodic rainfall events, which disproportionately contribute to groundwater replenishment. Recharge processes and annual recharge volumes were quantified using the water-table fluctuation method and the numerical model HYDRUS-1D. This allowed for the inference of additional recharge contributions from focused recharge in proximity to ephemeral rivers, up to a factor of five relative to diffuse recharge. The analysis revealed synchronicity and linear correlation between annual river discharge and recharge close to the river, substantiating the importance of focused recharge close to the river network. The study showed that recharge in drylands is subject to large spatial and temporal variation and that consideration of focused and episodic recharge is critically important for managing groundwater resources at various scales in these regions.

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Assessing sand dams for contributions to local water security and drought resilience in the semi-arid eastern Shashe catchment, Zimbabwe

Lazurko,

Lautze,

Hussey

et al. 2024

Reg Environ Change

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Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of droughts in semi-arid regions. Small-scale water storage can help build drought resilience, particularly in rural areas with no access to formal water infrastructure. Sand dams, which store water by capturing water in sand-filled ephemeral rivers during the wet season, are one promising storage option. While emerging studies indicate tentative evidence of their benefits, the focus on resilience is under-addressed. This study evaluates the impact of sand dams on resilience to climate variability and changes through a participatory case study approach in the Shashe catchment, a semi-arid catchment shared by Botswana and Zimbabwe. Participatory research was conducted via site inspections, focus group discussions, and interviews at 20 sand dams utilized by 19 villages across the Zimbabwean portion of the Shashe catchment. The results show that sand dams significantly improved local water availability, most notably with a significant increase in the number of months per year that water could be collected from the dam site (mean = 6.5 months before, to mean = 10.9 months after construction, p < 0.05). This increase is also reflected in drought years (mean = 5.8 months before, to mean = 9.6 months after construction, p < 0.05). Sand dams also contribute to the adaptive capacity of communities via key benefits such as diversification of livelihood activities, improved health and hygiene, and reduced erosion in the surrounding area due to increased vegetation. In sum, the study demonstrates clear benefits to communities facing drought, supporting calls to elevate sand dams on the development agenda.

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Modelling the water level of the alluvial aquifer of an ephemeral river in south-western Zimbabwe

Abstract: Modelling the water level of the alluvial aquifer of an ephemeral river in southwestern Zimbabwe http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/12243/ Article LJMU has developed LJMU Research Online for users to access the research output of the University more effectively.

Cited by 7 publications

References 30 publications

Shifting sands : Diversity and dynamics of farmer-led irrigation along sand rivers in Kenya and Zimbabwe

Shifting sands : Diversity and dynamics of farmer-led irrigation along sand rivers in Kenya and Zimbabwe

Groundwater recharge influenced by ephemeral river flow and land use in the semiarid Limpopo Province of South Africa

Assessing sand dams for contributions to local water security and drought resilience in the semi-arid eastern Shashe catchment, Zimbabwe

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