Water Resource Management

Project component :Water Resources Management

The component objective is to enhance water-use efficiency and rationalize water abstractions while ensuring sound management practices of the five river basins which includes  Kapingazi/Rupingazi, Ena, Tungu, Kithenu/Mutonga and Kathita rivers found in the five project Districts of Embu, Mbeere, Meru South, Tharaka and Meru Central respectivelly.

The component is implemented through two Sub-Components namely:

• River Basin Management
• Community Water Development Sub-components.

It supports activities that are geared to river basin management and community water development which includes:

• river data collection and management;
• water resources studies;
• Development of River Basins Management plans;
• Formation of Water Users Associations and Water Resources;
• Users Associations;
• Rehabilitation of existing water supply systems;
• Improvement of water intakes;
• Establishment of water measuring and control devices;
• Awareness creations and campaigns on water and sanitation;
• Water harvesting for domestic and irrigation;
• Development of other alternative water sources to ease demand on rivers.

This is expected to result in increased base flows for the down streams users in a sustainable manner.

Mt. Kenya is an important Catchment area that produces 49% of the entire flow of Tana River and the Dams built on the Tana River provide 82% of the installed hydropower generated in the country and of the the remaining 43% capacity.

The Tana River directly affects 6% of Kenya's population in addition to the entire population in the lower Tana Basin