GEOGRAPHY - SAND DAMS
Sand Dams in Kenya
WHAT IS A SAND DAM?
A Sand Dam is a steel reinforced concrete wall built across a sandy riverbed. During rainy seasons, a seasonal river forms and carries soil (consisting of sand and silt) which moves downstream. The heavy sand builds up behind the dam, whereas lighter sand and silt washes over the wall of the dam. Within the space of one to four rainy seasons, these dam types get completely filled with sand. However, approximately 40% of the volume held behind the dam is actually water stored between the sand particles. Sand Dams are definitely the most costeffective form of rainwater harvesting as well as providing communities in arid regions with a clean, local and reliable source of water which is sustainable – even during long seasons of drought. These Dams can, on average, store up to 20 million litres of water and provide a yearround supply for up to 1,000 people – with very little operation and maintenance costs. Sand
Dams store water under sand, protecting it from contamination and evaporation - which means that it is consists of cleaner water that has the ability to last longer. These Dams can save people in communities up to 8 hours a day because they provide water to families an average of only 30 minutes from home. Communities are then able to invest this time in protecting their land from erosion and investing in climate smart agriculture. Sand Dams are not only costeffective but last at least 30-50 years and along with the virtually zero operation and maintenance costs make them a remarkably low-cost, sustainable solution to rural water supply.
EXAMPLE - THE WATER PROJECT WORKING TO BUILD SAND DAMS IN KENYA:
The construction of sand dams in Kenya was organized by Water Project to create the African
Sand Dam Foundation and was completed in June 2012. The aim of the initiative was to help provide farmers with easier access to cleaner water, but with a sustainable construction method in semi-arid and arid
WHAT IS A SAND DAM?
A Sand Dam is a steel reinforced concrete wall built across a sandy riverbed. During rainy seasons, a seasonal river forms and carries soil (consisting of sand and silt) which moves downstream. The heavy sand builds up behind the dam, whereas lighter sand and silt washes over the wall of the dam. Within the space of one to four rainy seasons, these dam types get completely filled with sand. However, approximately 40% of the volume held behind the dam is actually water stored between the sand particles. Sand Dams are definitely the most costeffective form of rainwater harvesting as well as providing communities in arid regions with a clean, local and reliable source of water which is sustainable – even during long seasons of drought. These Dams can, on average, store up to 20 million litres of water and provide a yearround supply for up to 1,000 people – with very little operation and maintenance costs. Sand
Dams store water under sand, protecting it from contamination and evaporation - which means that it is consists of cleaner water that has the ability to last longer. These Dams can save people in communities up to 8 hours a day because they provide water to families an average of only 30 minutes from home. Communities are then able to invest this time in protecting their land from erosion and investing in climate smart agriculture. Sand Dams are not only costeffective but last at least 30-50 years and along with the virtually zero operation and maintenance costs make them a remarkably low-cost, sustainable solution to rural water supply.
EXAMPLE - THE WATER PROJECT WORKING TO BUILD SAND DAMS IN KENYA:
The construction of sand dams in Kenya was organized by Water Project to create the African
Sand Dam Foundation and was completed in June 2012. The aim of the initiative was to help provide farmers with easier access to cleaner water, but with a sustainable construction method in semi-arid and arid