New homeowners, especially in the satellite towns around Nairobi, grapple with the issue of water scarcity.
Satellite towns such as Syokimau, Athi River, Ruiru, and even Tigoni are not well connected with piped water from the government.
Some have only borehole water associated with different health complications, including weakening bones.
"According to World Agroforestry, Kenya is a water-scarce country with less than 600 cubic meters per capita below the global 1000 cubic meters per capita," Farm Biz Africa stated in their report.
"Water scarcity is a critical constraint to the country’s socio-economic development and its achievement of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the global development agenda detailed in the Sustainable Development Goals," it added.
Below are some tips you can consider when harvesting water and safeguarding your homestead from the negative effects of scarcity.
Harvesting Rainwater Using Gutters
Fitting gutters on roofs is one cost-effective technique for harvesting rainwater.
The harvested rainwater water can then be stored in tanks for future use or treated using different approved chemicals to make it fit for consumption.
Fog Harvesting
Fog harvesting is also a technique that can be used to harvest water.
The water-loaded fog that forms during humid months, especially in mountainous or coastal areas, is captured with the help of polypropylene mesh nets or ridges.
The mesh normally collects small water droplets, which trickle into collection troughs, gutters and drains into a series of tanks. Fog harvesting is cheap, with simple technology required for maintenance, and uses a technique that is easy to replicate.
Small Underground Reservoir
Sinking small underground holes, cemented, also serves as an option for storing rainwater.
Other than buying tanks, some new homeowners sink those small holes, which are easily maintained, enabling them to save on the cost of buying water.
Contour Trenching
This involves digging trenches along contour lines. Water flowing down the hill is retained by the trenches, which is then preserved for future use.
In between the trenches, crops can be grown, turning out to be economical to homeowners.
Grey Water Recycling
Grey water is the wastewater from baths, showers, washing machines, dishwashers and sinks.
In advanced countries, some new homeowners recycle the water professionally, saving approximately 70 litres per person per day in domestic households.
However, this type of water cannot be used for drinking.
