Assessment of Rainfall, Streamflow and Reservoir Level Trends for Malewa River Catchment, Naivasha, Kenya
Elizabeth Wambui Nyokabi,
Raphael Muli Wambua,
Romulus Okoth Okwany
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
1-8
Received:
19 December 2020
Accepted:
28 December 2020
Published:
12 January 2021
Abstract: Appropriate water quality and quantity are critical problem greatly affecting significant proportion of the population particularly those living in semi-arid and arid areas. Rainfall characteristics, streamflow and reservoir levels are some of the key hydro-meteorological variables within a catchment in the determination of sufficiency of water quantity. Lake Naivasha reservoir level continues to be hit by anthropogenic stressors such as loss of wetlands, water abstraction and eutrophication. Also there has been a lot of fluctuation in flow discharge of Malewa River over the years where the tributaries (Turasha and Karati streams) usually dries up during dry season. This paper presents the results of a research to assess the time series trends of rainfall, streamflow and lake basin levels data in the catchment from 1980-2018 using Mann-Kendall trend test to assess water quantity status. Monthly stream flow, rainfall and reservoir level data in the catchment were obtained from Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA) and Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) for the years 1980-2018. Non-parametric Mann-Kendall rank statistics test was used to examine the trend components of hydro-meteorological variables. The P-values were used to test whether the null hypotheses were statistically significant (α<0.05) at a 5% level of significance. Rainfall values had an increasing trend from 2011 onwards but not statistically significant while annual streamflow values had no trend as P-value showed weak evidences to rejected the null hypothesis. Reservoir level had an upward trend in years 1981, 2001, 2003, 2012 and 2018 while downward trends in 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2014. From 2010 onwards, in monthly data, there have been upward water levels in the lake as shown by the trend. These show that the hydro-meteorological indicators in the catchment are independently trending, therefore some other factors such as land cover changes or climate changes were adversely affecting the hydrological cycle. These findings are helpful for planning and management in water resource systems such as forecasting water distribution and mitigate flood and drought.
Abstract: Appropriate water quality and quantity are critical problem greatly affecting significant proportion of the population particularly those living in semi-arid and arid areas. Rainfall characteristics, streamflow and reservoir levels are some of the key hydro-meteorological variables within a catchment in the determination of sufficiency of water qua...
Show More
Suitability and Utilization Study on Waste Plastic Brick as Alternative Construction Material
Tarekegn Belay Wendimu,
Beneyam Neguse Furgasa,
Bonsa Mohammed Hajji
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
9-12
Received:
29 December 2020
Accepted:
18 January 2021
Published:
25 January 2021
Abstract: Construction industry is gradually increasing through the whole of the world and it is consuming natural resource raw materials for construction materials. Traditional way of producing clay brick without giving care for natural resource brought deficiency of natural resource. Now the days, plastics waste is the big challenge of the world on Environmental impacts and Alternative using High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste Brick for construction material is preventing environmental impact of plastic and in other hand saving natural resources clay soil. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste was collected from different sites it was thrown and before producing waste plastic Brick High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is cleaned, and the size is minimized as it was suitable for plastic waste Brick. After that Plastic waste Bricks were produced for different Tests. five sample of plastic waste Bricks were produced for compressive strength test. Mean Compressive strength of Plastic waste Brick was 24MPa which is satisfied as per Ethiopian and ASTM standard Class A and SW grade respectively and for dimensional tolerance test, ten waste plastic Brick were taken to check dimensional change. Waste plastic Brick checked for dimensional tolerance were the same with the standard dimension as per ASTM standard. Plastic Waste Brick is not recommended for kitchen, chimney and like walling Purpose due to it has low fire resistant and melted at low temperature.
Abstract: Construction industry is gradually increasing through the whole of the world and it is consuming natural resource raw materials for construction materials. Traditional way of producing clay brick without giving care for natural resource brought deficiency of natural resource. Now the days, plastics waste is the big challenge of the world on Environ...
Show More
Utilisation of Plastifying and Fluxing Wastes of Plastics and Eggshell Powder in Manufacture of Eco-Friendly Floor Tiles
Ainomugisha Safiki,
Twinemukama Joseph,
Okello Thomas,
Bazairwe Annette
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
13-20
Received:
30 January 2021
Accepted:
7 February 2021
Published:
27 February 2021
Abstract: This study addresses the possibility of utilizing polypropylene plastics and eggshell wastes in the manufacture of eco-friendly floor tiles. Therefore, the research is part of the ongoing hunt for establishing sustainable alternatives for disposing off plastic and eggshell wastes around the globe. In this study polypropylene plastic wastes (PPW) are melted and used as a binder to eggshell powder (ESP) acting as a flux in the matrix. These are combined with fine aggregates. Three ternary mixes of PPW-ESP-Sand are made in the proportions of 50–0–50%, 55–10–35%, and 60–20–20%. Thirty six sample tiles of size 250 mm x 250 mm x 8 mm are cast. The physical properties of PPW, ESP, and sand are first established. Then, the effect of this PPW and ESP on the flexural strength, impact resistance, density, and water absorption of floor tiles made are investigated. Specifically, the bulk density of PPW, ESP and sand were 370, 1280, and 1700 Kg/m3 and specific gravities were 0.93, 2.54, and 2.64 respectively. Meanwhile, PPW–ESP–Sand mix of 60-20-20% had the lowest water absorption at 0.15% and also the lowest density of 1570Kg/m3, and the highest modulus of rupture of 11.7kN/mm2 compared to conventional ceramic tile at 3.9KN/mm2. The tile manufactured from the mix of 60-20-20% also exhibited the highest resistance to impact damage although all samples had a coefficient of restitution (e=0). In conclusion, the study presents a novel finding of combining two wastes replacing conventional non-renewable resources of clay and feldspar to produce eco-friendly tiles. Therefore, implementing the findings will facilitate achieving United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG), i.e. goal 12 of responsible consumption and production.
Abstract: This study addresses the possibility of utilizing polypropylene plastics and eggshell wastes in the manufacture of eco-friendly floor tiles. Therefore, the research is part of the ongoing hunt for establishing sustainable alternatives for disposing off plastic and eggshell wastes around the globe. In this study polypropylene plastic wastes (PPW) ar...
Show More
