Assessment of impact of upstream water abstraction on downstream water users in great Ruaha river sub basin
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Date
2015
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study was taken in Great Ruaha River sub basin of Tanzania to assess the impact of upstream water abstraction on downstream water users. The study has integrated the hydrological data, abstraction data, hydropower generation data and social data. The impact of upstream water abstraction on downstream water users was analyzed based on the change of the flow hydrograph of the Great Ruaha River sub basin. The results of water abstraction indicates that the number of water abstractors in the upstream of Great Ruaha River sub basin is increasing each year while the flow of river is decreasing. Many water users abstract water throughout the year provided the water is available in the river and ignoring the conditions stated in their water right. This leads to over abstraction and many rivers change from being perennial to seasonal. It was also noted that there is an increasing number of illegal abstractors; Illegal abstraction partially is associated with the long time spent to acquire the permit since the date of application. Also, water abstractors were not comfortable with the recent increase of price claiming that is high. The decreased flow is strongly associated with death of animals in the Ruaha National park and decreased hydropower generation at Mtera and Kidatu dams. In order to mitigate this there should be the construction of reservoirs which can be used to store water to be used during dry season.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF TD319.T34F44)
Keywords
Water supply, Great Ruaha River Sub- Basin, Tanzania
Citation
Felix, H. (2015) Assessment of impact of upstream water abstraction on downstream water users in great Ruaha river sub basin, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam