By Eric Sindabi
The high amount of pressure on land in Mau region encompassing of Njoro division in the west of Nakuru has resulted to the degradation of the local watershed resources.
Research shows that this is caused by insufficient ground water levels which result as for excess harvesting in the region, and which is due to the high populations in the area, as also industry and other water users.
For example, the huge settlement pattern around Egerton university and local communities comprising of over a hundred thousand plus people and livestock all manipulate the local water body.
For example Massive settlements and economic activities along the river around the university and in Njoro town where the river meanders through,are attracted by the expansion of the institute among others, which indeed add to the pressure on Njoro River.
Here, all human, animal, agricutre, business and industrial water needs are all depend ant on Njoro River.
The department of Environment and Natural Resources of Egerton University has nevertheless overtime initiated co-operative initiatives by liaising with other stakeholders locally and internationally in a gesture to providing a sustainable management for the water body.
A recent initiative by the academic centre in collaboration with the Rift Valley Water Services Board (R.V.W.S.B) is set to solve water crisis in Njoro by constructing a dam to boost water harvesting. The project is dabbed; “Njoro-Egerton Water Supply, Sanitation and Conservation Centre".
According to sources, the project is aiming at supplying about 16,000m3 of water a day, to Njoro residents. The project is partly being sponsored by the European Union (E U) and likewise aims at reducing the high poverty level of majority of the locals. The source says, this will be by enabling reliable, affordable and safe water resources to the community.
"The project aims at implementing specific millennium development goals (M.D.G.S) and World Bank summit for sustainable development (W.S.S.D) target on water and sanitation in developing countries"Says a media report at Egerton University.
The dam’s site will be located at a rural setting in the region that is inhabited by low-income earners, with very limited access to safe and reliable water resources. The project, the source added, will mitigate the number of water bone related ailments among residents. Other benefits of the dam will include an increase in water supply for domestic use, Agriculture, livestock, development, industry and institutions.
Thus, the project will foresee to the reduction of the amount of water harvest from Njoro River, cease pressure on the river and the rejuvenation of underground water tables and rivers in Mau, hence conserving the water shed.
Egerton University alone has over twenty boreholes which however are drying up. The varsity is also strategically located along the river, which boost its serene out view and environmental programmes like research and academic activities in Geography, natural resources, zoology and botany. Likewise,the University's fast growing famous Botanic Garden is located on the banks of Njoro river dis tributary.
The continued expansion of the university attracts more students, staff, visitors and investors in the area. This, research reports say, has greatly contributed to the amount of pressure exerted on Njoro River.
An environmental stakeholders research programme called -Sustainable Management of Water Resources (SUMAWA)based at the University reports indicate that the chemical state of the river's water caused by pollution, is a threat to human,livestock and wild life health in the region.
The reports indicate further that the continued human pressure being exerted on local rivers that drain in Lake Nakuru will lower the water level of the Lake thus provide a threat for its extinction.SUMAWA advocates for the conservation of local watershed through educating the locals environmental ethics and protection.The research programme also initiates tapped water projects in local communities to discourage consumption of poluted river water by the locals.
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