TITLE:
Water Supply Challenges and Storm Water Management in Kisii Municipality, Nyakomisaro Sub Catchment, Kenya
AUTHORS:
Christopher Misati Ondieki, Bisley Mokaya Kebaso
KEYWORDS:
Nyakomisaro, Water Supply, Kisii Municipality, WRMA, GWASCO
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.4 No.9,
September
19,
2017
ABSTRACT: The water supply system in Kisii municipality faces
many challenges. The municipality is located within the Nyakomisaro sub
catchment and the water supply relies heavily on the River Nyakomisaro. The
water supply system is dilapidated and there is a lot of wastage due to poor
maintenance. The state of the catchment does not permit all year round supply
due to degradation and climatic variability and this compromises sub-catchment
integrity, given the ever rising population and increasing human activities. This study investigated challenges for water supply
and stream flow management using stream flow and rainfall data from the
hydrometric network and structured questionnaires for water supply and storm
water management in the sub catchment. Analysis was done using standard
statistical methods. When dry spells last for a week, severe water shortage
causes people to travel long distances in search of it and is generally
expensive thereby limiting domestic and commercial activities. Dumping of solid
waste along the river, road and house construction sites affect river flow.
Fish farming and eucalyptus trees along the river diminish the flow. There are
no proper drainage systems in the Nyakomisaro sub catchment. Reliance on river
water could be reduced by rainwater harvesting yet also flooding and poor
sanitation affect water supply and ecosystem management. To improve on the
water supply and drainage systems, planning for water management in the sub
catchment should incorporate all stakeholders including: NEMA, GWASCO and WRMA
and the community.