Assessment of Household Access to Groundwater: A Case Study of Gilgil Constituency
- 1 Department of Geomatics Engineering & Geospatial Information Systems, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
- 2 Department of Geomatics Engineering & Geospatial Information Systems, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
- 3 Department of Geomatics Engineering & Geospatial Information Systems, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
Abstract
In 2000, the United Nations (UN) developed Millennium Development Goals (MDG) with one of its aim being to improve access of potable water supply by 2015 in developing countries. This study thus focused on Kenya’s Gilgil constituency which lies in both arid and semi-arid zones and experiences bimodal rains which are neither heavy nor reliable. With persistent shortages, water management and monitoring became essential and in current times the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is being incorporated due to its capability as an effective tool in water resources management. The study’s aim was to provide knowledge about accessible areas and gaps using cost surface analysis as well as identify other factors that influence settlement. The study utilized walk speeds as an impedance to determine cost surfaces followed by creation of service areas from water facilities using time as a measurement of access. The study established that surface friction may not have major influence on accessibility and service areas while logistic regression established that other factors strongly influence settlement apart from water availability. The study also reveals that 77% of the semi-permanent households in Gilgil have a hard time accessing water as they are outside the 30-minute walk time.
- Institute of Economic Affairs (2007) A Rapid Assessment of Kenya’s Water, Sanitation and Sewerage Framework.
- United Nations (2014) The United Nations World Water Development Report 2014, Water and Energy.
- Winpenny, J. (2009) Investing in Information, Knowledge and Monitoring the United Nations World Water Development Report 3 Water in a Changing World.
- Gleeson, T., Wada, Y., Bierkens, M.F.P. and Van Beek, L.P.H. (2012) Water Balance of Global Aquifers Revealed by Groundwater Footprint. Nature, 488, 197-200. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11295
- UN-Water (2006) Facts and Trends: Water.
- World Health Organization and UNICEF (2006) Meeting the MDG Drinking Water and Sanitation: The Urban and Rural Challenge of Decade.
- Cairncross, S. (2002) Sanitation and Water Supply: Practical Lessons from the Decade, Vol. 17.
- Banerjee, S.G., Morella, E. and Banerjee, S.G. (2011) Africa’s Water and Sanitation Infrastructure—Access, Affordability, and Alternatives. Vol. 1, Report No. 60804. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-8457-2
- Ministry of Environment Water and Natural Resources (2013) National Environment Policy, 2013.
- Ministry of Water and Irrigation (2010) Annual Water Sector Review 2009. January.
- Government of Kenya (2002) The Water Act of Kenya 2002. No. 8.
- Ntozini, R., et al. (2015) Using geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis Methods to Assess Household Water Access and Sanitation Coverage in the SHINE Trial. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 61, S716-S725. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/civ847
- Thompson, A.O. and Dodson, R.G. (1963) Ministry of Natural Resources, Geological Survey of Kenya. Government of Kenya.
- Wagah, G.G., Onyango, G.M. and Kibwage, J.K. (2010) Accessibility of Water Services in Kisumu Municipality, Kenya. Journal of Geography and Regional Planning, 2, 114-125.
- Njonjo, K.S. (2013) Pulling Apart or Pooling Together? Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and Society for International Development (SID).
- Kiti Nabide, I. (2002) Development of 3-D Conceptual Hydrogeological Model for Lake Naivasha Area. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences, Netherlands.