Water Resources Engineering

Jacob Kihila
 Introduction
Water resources-Useful sources that can be utilized
to meet various water needs
Earths water resources include the rivers, lakes,
oceans, and underground aquifers
Water resources are under major stress and is
becoming scarce
Plans for effective water management are therefore
important
Global water resources
 Water resources-Tanzania
Three great Lakes (Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika)
Major rivers (Ruvuma, Mara, Ruaha etc)
Shared water resources
Tanzania has got adequate water resources to meet the
current demand is sustainably managed Good news
Based on population projection it is estimated that
Tanzania will become water stressed by 2015 even if
the resources are well managed-bad news
Recent reviews indicates that there is lack of
strategy and under investment in water sector,
lack of planning and management systems
 Water Resources-Tanzania
Resulted to costly investment in unsustainable
infrastructure as well as inadequate capacity to
buffer drought and floods
Due to improper management-overexploitation and
degradation of water resources has been the result
This has led to water conflicts etc
Water resources and Env. management

Water resources and environmental management

are closely linked
Environmental management-protection of river
basins and recharge areas, pollution control
 Environmental threats to water
resources
Climate change (melting of ice at Kilimanjaro mountain -
85% less today than in 1912)
Over abstraction, diversion and storage of water without
consideration of downstream uses
Over pumping of ground water resources-salt intrusion in
DSM
Pollution from anthropogenic activities (agr, mining,
industrial etc)
Increased siltation of dams caused by poor cultivation,
urbanization, deforestation and overgrazing
Loss and degradation of wetlands (Usangu and Ugalla
game reserves)
Infestation of water hyacinth
 Challenges to sectors
Agriculture-contributes to 46% of GDP but is mostly
rain fed-most vulnerable to droughts. Irrigation
(potential) accounts for 97.3% of total water uses and
the current master plan is to double irrigation in the
next 2 years
Livestock-30m livestock unit by 2006 and use 0.6% of
total use. Most in semi arid areas where water
availability is limited
Fisheries-Accounts for 11% of export earnings and its
production originates from inland lakes which depends
on lake ecosystem and water quality. Lakes prone to
pollution and over abstraction (eg abstraction for
hydropower at Jinja caused 1.6 m water level decline)
 Challenges to sectors
Energy-only 10% of population and only 1% of rural
population have access to electricity. 2/3 of
electricity comes from hydropower plants in
Pangani and Rufiji which is 12% of the hydropower
potential. Low rainfall, illegal extraction and poor
enforcement of water right has led to reduced
power generation
Mining-Fastest growing and account for 62% of
total exports. Million people employed in artisanal
mining which is poorly controlled. Power needs and
water for processing are needed by commercial
and artisanal miners. Mining waste disposal targets
water resources such as rivers and lakes.
 Challenges to sectors
Water supply (urban, rural, industrial, mining)-
accounts for 2.1% of water use. The water supply
coverage is still low and is expected to increase
with time. Existing water supplies are vulnerable to
over extraction and pollution. Most cities and town
do not have wastewater treatment facilities
Industry-uses significant amounts of water for
processing, cooling etc. Vision 2015 is to transform
economy into middle income economy which is
semi industrialized. More industries will have a big
impact on water resources and in addition huge
amount of wastewater can lead to pollution
 Challenges to sectors
Tourism-fast growing sector. Rich and sustainable
biodiversity depends much on the water resources.
Coastal tourism need adequate electricity, clean
environment and safe disposal of wastewater.
Abstraction and pollution can affect much the river
flows, water quality and affect the lake and river
biodiversity which can ultimately affect tourism
National water Policy
 National water policy, 2002
To provide clean and safe water to all her citizens and as
soon as is financially possible
To ensure there is an appropriate use of the water sources
such as lakes, rivers, under groundwater, rainwater harvesting
and dams
Provides for preservation of the sources against pollution
It stipulates the principles for management of water resources
in Tanzania such as:-
Planning is a multi-sectoral process
Management to be based on river and basins
Devolution of responsibilities to river basins, catchment and
water user groups
Water management needs to be properly financed
Value for water be recognized through charges
Cooperative approach to transboundary resources
Recognize the need for environmental water allocation
 River basin water management
example of an incentive-based participatory mechanism
for solving conflicts and allocating water between
competing users, including natural ecosystems
Land use and water planning and management
mechanisms, which focus at the river basin scale
consideration of the ecological requirements of marine
and coastal systems that are influenced by basin
discharges
provides the opportunity for communities and
stakeholders to develop an integrated management
process, which takes cognizance of their spiritual,
ethical, social, economic and environmental value
systems
 Principles for basin water management
Initially, basin management should be targeted to specific
hydrological units, focusing on a few existing or perceived water-
related issues with more issues being included later once experience
and success is achieved
Basin management should address all components of the water
resource and all elements of the hydrological cycle, which relate to
each issue
The units for basin management should be sub-catchments within the
basin and should be based on the socio-economic, land use and water
environmental resource character of the catchment
Aspire for holistic inclusiveness, with growing integration of relevant
issues and elements affecting water resources in a basin or
catchment, as a prerequisite for sustainable development
District governments and local authorities should have an effective
role and responsibilities in water resources management
 Elements of
Water Resources Planning
What is Planning?
Strategies for achieving
a desired set of goals
 Planning Involves

Players - individuals, agencies,

businesses, communities, state and
federal government
Processes - identification of goals,
metrics, alternatives, trade offs,
additions
Products - a traditional report,
modeling environments, dynamic
structure
 What Makes
Water Resources Planning Unique?

Significant impacts
High potential for conflict
Resource availability uncertain but
coveted
Technical and political concerns
rain?
Divergent interests
Established and emerging institutions
 Who does planning?

Federal and state agencies

Local municipalities and utilities
Regional water authorities
Local communities
 What Do Plans Consider?

Navigation Economics
Flood Protection Health & Safety
Power Production Future
Development
Irrigation Aesthetics
Water Quality Recreation
Water Supply Habitat
Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?
Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?

The Public
Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?

Agriculture
Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?

Power Producers
Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?

Ecosystems and Fish

Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?

Industry
 Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?

Navigation Interests
Who Has a Stake In Water Planning?

Recreationalists
Water resources planning
 Introduction
The National Water Policy 2002 directs that planning of water
resources development and management shall be
participatory, multi-sectoral, inter-disciplinary, and based on
river basins
This planning integrates the linkage between land use and
water use, water quality and quantity, and the important role
ecosystems play in the sustainable development and
management of water resources
 Planning process
defining related macro economic considerations -
political, environmental, social and economic - to
address poverty and growth and the linkage with
water resources;
determining environmental, economic and social
considerations based on the principle of
sustainability;
setting criteria for differing water resources priorities
at different levels;
determining and prioritizing requirements of all
users;
 Planning process
establishing participatory planning procedures for
use at the different levels; and
balancing water utilisation planning between the
various socio-economic environmental needs (e.g.
food security, domestic supply and sanitation,
generation of hydropower, industry and mining,
livestock and wildlife, sustenance of ecosystems
and fisheries resources, recreation and tourism,
and navigation), in an integrated and holistic
manner