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Sand dam construction in Kenya

Cross section of a sand dam

Regions with highly erratic rainfall often have rivers with temporary seasonal sandy bed streams. They only experience heavy water run-off for short periods of time after rain. During such periods of high flows, large quantities of sand are transported downstream. Some sand can get trapped on the upstream sides of rocks outcroppings along the stream. Such sand traps form natural water storing aquifers. The sand dam technology provides a means to reproduce this water collecting mechanism and to increase the size of existing aquifers.

Water in natural collection sites is usually clean for drinking but quite finite and quickly gets depleted. Sand dams are an artificial improvement of sand beds where more water can be recharged and stored for water use. A dam of concrete, clay soil or stone masonry is constructed across the channel at specific sites to trap and hold back the sand during flooding; this creates an additional sub surface water bank to be harvested during the dry season.

With an accurate and appropriate location choice the total amount of water available in the sand dams can be over 6000m³.

History and social context

In Kenya, it has been used with good outcome in the Kitui, Machakos and Samburu districts. Other countries with similar dry environments such as the U.S.A, Thailand, Ethiopia and Namibia also have used it in numerous and diverse forms.

Sand dam projects here have not only improved water availability, but benefited the community socially and economically. Locals are trained to participate in construction of the dam, maintenance, financial management, and also in natural resource management.

Suitable conditions

Sand dam during flooding

Expert input is required to determine the best site for the dam and to make sure the project is adapted to the physical conditions as well as social circumstances of the local community.

Physically, the site must be suitable for construction of a dam, provide safe drinking water, and be able to use sand sedimentation to increase water availability. Firstly it must be decided if the river is appropriate, secondly the best section of riverbed must be chosen, and then the optimum location for extraction.

Generally, the dam requires a sandy riverbed in a hilly area. Preferably the riverbed consists of coarse sands layed on impermeable bedrock. The river should be seasonal but must have a base flow. Whether this is the case can be determined by the type of vegetation growing around the river. The river shouldn’t be too wide (max. 25m) and should have two high riverbanks.

These conditions and also others related to, for example; climate, presence of boulders, or gradient of the riverbed must be analyzed in detail to determine suitability of the site. Also, though it can be artificially improved, the water quality must be good enough for drinking (not too saline, contaminated, etc.)

Technical specification

Operation

Women fetching water from a local aquifer through scoop hole

Closed well near a sand dam

First an appropriate site needs to be selected, depending on whether it is suitable for a sand dam or not. Then the best section of the riverbed is chosen. Then the dam is designed, depending on the conditions and the water needs of the community, and built. It takes a few rainy seasons to let the aquifer fill up. After that an extraction point is constructed such as a scoop hole or well. Then water can be extracted and used for drinking, agriculture, etc. Meanwhile the local community needs to be trained to manage and maintain the dam.

Maintenance

If done timely, the maintenance required is not costly. Small malfunctions in the dam however can lead to destruction of the entire dam. Therefore, the dam should be regularly checked for cracks and damage. Particularly after floods, and extreme temperature changes cracks are likely. These need to be repaired as soon as possible by a trained mason.

Further the outlet and upstream riverbed should be cleaned regularly to make sure the dam does not get blocked. Silt, rocks, dead animals, etc. should be removed regularly. This can also help prevent contamination of the water. The quality of the water in the well should be checked once in a while by an expert.

Manufacturing

Excavation of a trench for sand dam construction

First a trench needs to be dug. Its position is marked out using pegs. Then it is excavated and the soil placed downstream. It can also be dug out into bedrock. It should then be checked for weathering zones and cracks.

Then the dam is constructed. The method depends on the type of dam and the type of ground. The construction of sand dams in cascades improves total storage and efficiency and minimizes seepage losses. Dams made of concrete, stone-masonry and brickwork require skilled labour for construction, but are stronger and have a longer lifespan.

Round bars are placed vertically along the trench to reinforce it. Then a foundation is layed consisting of 2 layers of cement with barbed wire in between. Once this has set the trench is filled with masonry of mortar and hardcore. The wing walls and final dam wall can then be constructed. Finally any exposed parts of the construction are plastered.

Then an outlet for water extraction must be constructed. Hand dug scoop holes are the simplest possibility, however the water can easily be contaminated. Covered wells, with hand or rope pumps protect the water much better. It is also possible to construct an outlet pipe with a tap. This however are difficult to maintain, and can weaken the dam.

Estimated Lifespan

The lifespan depends on the materials used and expertise with which it is constructed and maintained. The dams in Kitui Kenya were built at a cost of 7500 USD and have a minimum lifespan of 50 years.

Cost

The construction of dams is largely carried out by the local community. Costs mainly relate to local availability of cement, masonry and professional supervision.

Cost of introduction:

• Material: US$ 5,500
• Other costs: US$ 500
• Labour: - skilled: US$ 2,500 - unskilled: 900 man days -

Cost of maintainance:

• Operation and maintenance: 5 days per year

Country experiences

Kitui district, Kenya: SASOL Foundation has since 1995 built over 500 dams. They are built using locally available materials and are partially (40%) financed by the local community. The community is also involved in the construction and maintenance. Sand management groups were formed to aid in the construction of dams and to maintain them after.

The dams not only provide a steady source of drinking water, but also have further social and economic benefits. They provide irrigation for cash crops and other commercial rural activities, piped water for industrial activities in nearby villages. Further due to the large number of dams, the water table rises over a large area and therefore stimulates ecological regeneration.

Borana Zone, Ethiopia: Communities in this area depend on agriculture and livestock farming, which is very limited due to the unstable water supply. In 2007 several NGOs implemented 7 sand dams and 10 surface runoff tanks. This combination should provide a reliable source of water for 10 communities in the area. The project will in the future expand to other parts of the country also.

Manuals

http://www.rainfoundation.org/fileadmin/PublicSite/Manuals/Sand_dam_manual_FINAL.pdf

Movies

• Kitui Sand Dams - CPWC
• RAIN sand dam workshop & field visit in Ethiopia, 2009, by RAIN foundation and EHRA.
• Sand dam movie - Excellent Development.com

External Links

• www.sanddam.org - All information on sand dams
• Sasol Project Kenya
• ACACIA Water
• UNEP
• IAH
• Water for Arid Land
• Practical action
• Excellent Development

Footnotes

Acknowledgements

References