How can we increase sustainable water supplies (Kenya)? Flashcards
What percent of Kenya is considered arid or semi-arid land?
80%.
80% of Kenya’s land is considered what?
80% of Kenya is considered arid or semi-arid land.
What are the three reasons for parts of Kenya suffering water insecurity?
Rivers may only flow during the rainy season, in the dry season, much of the surface water evaporates, and rural communities cannot store water effectively for future use.
What is the population of Kenya, and what type of country is it?
Kenya is an LIC with a population of over 52 million people.
Some people in rural areas must travel how long to find water?
Some people in rural areas must travel 6-9 hours a day to find water - negative impact on quality of life.
Some people in Kenya do what to get water?
Some residents of rural Kenya dig deep into the ground with wells or boreholes and extract water faster than the levels can recharge.
What charity uses sand dams to reduce water insecurity in Kenya?
The Utooni Development Organisation (UDO) is a charity that uses sand dams to reduce water insecurity in Kenya.
The small-scale projects in Kenya give local communities what?
Small-scale projects in Kenya give the local communities access to fresh water all year round.
How does a sand dam work?
A low, concrete dam is built on a river. During the rainy season, water flows in the river, and this carries sand that gets trapped behind the dam. Water is trapped between the sand crystals. Sand covering prevents water from evaporating. In dry season when river stops flowing, water is extracted. This can be done by digging a well, pumping water our to a tap or simply digging holes in the sand.
UDO has constructed how many dams in Kenya so far?
Utooni development organisation has constructed 1573 sand dams across Kenya.
Sand dams are good solutions for poor communities why?
Sand dams are a great solution for poor communities in rural Kenya as they are cheap to build, use local materials and do not require much maintenance to fix and keep them running. The sand dam can also be heightened to trap more sand.
What is a U-turn for sand dams?
People downstream complain their water flow is disrupted, and damming a river can cause fish to die, affecting the local ecosystem.
