Water Mining in Kenya - Case Study Example

INSTITUTION NAME SUBJECT DATE OF SUBMISSION WATER MINING IN KENYA KEY WORDS Mining Economic Social Challenges Sustainability INTRODUCTION Water is life. Water is essential for human existence and any development of the living organism. Water is used extensively by the people during their daily activities like washing, recreation, generation of power, for drinking both for animals and human beings, irrigation mostly in large scale farming systems and in many other ways (Walter et al., 1979.pp 102-104). SUMMARY OF THE STUDY Water mining and harvesting in Kenya remains very fundamental in ensuring improved standard of living for the citizens. Water mining is carried out through trapping and taping it from their sources. Commonly used methods are through trapping water from springs, rivers, from boreholes and through tapping the rain water. The water is then stored at on storage point, treated, processed before distributing to the consumers. Water mining has helped in build up of local companies and industries that major in filtering, treating and processing it. Job opportunities have risen as a result while water mining has also led to economic and social values. The values are achieved through water recreation, acting as the source of food, harboring essential minerals that are later extracted and acting as religious shrines for making offerings and pray grounds. Water mining in Kenya occurs from different sources which include: trapping rain water, wells, dams, weirs, boreholes and from the springs. This water is trapped or tapped from the sources then it is distributed to both rural and urban areas. Water distribution in Kenya varies from one place to the other. Most of the rural areas water are distributed through drainage pipes and other regions get water supply directly from rivers and man- made wells and boreholes (Maina et al., 2014, pp 75). The water from the drainage pipes, most of it flow freely from the force of gravity. Hence, the collection points are usually at raised points which are high in the mountains or on the hills. In urban areas, due to the long distances to be covered, the water is usually pumped from their sources then passed through galvanized pipes which are buried in the ground to prevent damage by animals and getting weak due to the strong sunlight. The pipes are then connected to one collection point around the urban areas which ensures there is always water supply to the people living in the fields (Maina et al., 2014, pp 74-75). In this collection points, water treatment is usually carried out through chlorination to ensure the public drink clean and safe water. In this urban areas, the lands are scarce hence leading to the lack of other water sources like dams, boreholes or springs though in some houses they store their water in man-made wells which are made in the small plots. VALUE OF WATER Water has high value in our life, where it has both economic and social value. In Kenya, water has been used as a source of energy to provide and boost the amount of electricity in the country. It has been utilized by the power plant where it help in rotating turbines which can convert the friction to power which is then trapped and stored before distribution. The hot springs around the country have also assisted in various areas where they act as spectacular scenarios for tourists attraction. Hence, the government gets some income from the tourists (Stone, T.2015.pp 18-21). DIFFERENT USES OF WATER During constructions, the constructors rely on water to mix their sand and ballast and cement. Water is also used when washing and cleaning materials like clothes, utensils, washing floors and also when washing animals. It is used when mixing chemicals and reagents in the laboratory. Water dilute the chemicals and reduce their strong effect. In some chemicals, water help in making the compounds more active (Maina et al., 2014, pp 74). Water has been used in making important drinks, i.e., alcohol and wines which are used for leisure. The drinks act as the source of income and create employment to those involved. Water serve as the source of minerals that are sources of revenue for various people and the government. Salt mining has been taking place in those water bodies that have water inlets but lack the water outlets. Hence, leading to deposits of the salt compounds that are then harvested using the draggers and then processed for human consumption. Salts provide useful minerals necessary for good health in people's health (Stone, T.2015.pp 18-21). Sand is also corrected from the water bodies especially the flowing rivers. Sand is used in building and constructing building materials. Water have also been used economically through extensive farming in arid and semi-arid areas where irrigation farming is carried out. Irrigation farming has helped people from this areas to improve their standards of living as they get some income from selling the farm produce, and also they get enough food supply from their farms. This approach has helped in the rehabilitation of this arid and semi-arid areas in the country (Stone, T.2015.pp 18-21). Water is socially used in the country in several ways; it is used for recreation, that is through swimming, boat riding, water skating, and scuba diving among others. Different water competitions and sports activities have been carried out in water bodies, and it has led to increasing in the interaction among various communities in the region. On the same, different cultures use water for different activities. Among the Christians, the use water bodies when carrying out baptisms to their followers. Other cultures make their shrines around the water bodies where they use to make their daily prayers. Large water masses mostly along the Indian Ocean have been utilized by some communities to make their homesteads which are permanent dwelling places. During water processing and treatment, less pollution occurs due to reducing mechanical activities involved. Pollution only happens when making the bottles for packing the treated water and when manufacturing chemicals to be used for water treatment. The pollution is reduced since the smoke realized usually administered through HEPER filtration method which is a method that purifies the smokes before releasing them to the atmosphere. The methods of extraction involve reduced pollution as it does not involve a lot of mechanical activities. Reduced pollution occurs from effluents released by the generators that pump water from their sources. This pollution is controlled through putting HEPER filters in the exhaust pipes of this machines (Walter et al., 1979. Pp. 105). Water mining sector is facing various challenges in its sustainability and development (Maina et al., 2014, pp 76). The following are some of the problems in this sector; climatic changes which have led to drying of various sources of water like wells and springs. Increased water pollution due to human activities that make the water unhealthy for human consumption (Marks et al. 2013, p.p 122-133). The increased cost of production especially when installing the galvanized pipes and purchasing the pumps and generators, other human activities like planting trees along the river banks have led to increasing in water reduction from their sources and increase in industrialization has increased water pollution (Terefe et al., 2015.no page). RECOMMENDATION I would take the initiative of purchasing or make several water storage points to ensure there is reduced water shortage at any given time. Those running industries should ensure they treat their industrial effluents before releasing them to the water bodies to prevent polluting the water and killing the aquatic animals living in this water bodies. The chimneys in the industries should be fitted with HEPER filters which will be removing any toxic materials from the smokes released that lead to pollution of the air which later results in the formation of acidic rains that are harmful and toxic (Walter et al., 1979. Pp. 102-109). I would recommend the entire community as a whole to work together in conserving and maintaining the water sources. It is every one's responsibility to ensure water sources are well preserved to prevent any shortage as a result of damage to this sites. All the plants like trees which reduced and polluted the water masses should be cleared and any farming activities along the water sources should be avoided to ensure there is no interruption of the water sources. The government should enact laws to protect the water bodies from damage, and it should also help their citizens in getting easier access to water that is being supplied by the country. CONCLUSION Water mining has several benefits, and water sources should be protected by all means. The benefits have economic and social benefits which are inevitable in our daily life. Water is a natural resource which we should work together to ensure it is well sustained. The sector is facing several challenges in its sustainability due to human negligence and climatic changes, but enactment of laws and creating necessary awareness to the public will help in the proper control of the water. REFERENCES Walter, Ingo, and Judith L. 1979. Environmental policies in developing countries. Ambio, pp. 102-109 Stone, T. (2015). Reclaiming its mining future; prestigious mining projects- Kenya. Inside Mining, 8(1), pp. 18-21 Maina, F.W., Okoba, B., Mwangi, P. and Waringa. “Strenthening capacity for climate change adaptation in sustainable land and water management: diversifying farmers’ livelihoods in Siaya and Machakos Counties, Kenya. Adapting to climate change through land and water management in Eastern Africa. 2014:p.76 SJ, Marks, K Onda, J Davis. “Does sense of ownership matter for rural water system sustainability? Evidence from Kenya.” Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development,( 2013); 122-133 HR,Terefe, Z Asfaw, S Demissew., 2015. The Link between Ethnobotany and Watershed Development for Sustainable Use of Land and Plant Resources in Ethiopia. Journal of Ecosystem &Ecography. Aug 14,2015. Read More