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March 26, 2024

What are sand dams and how are they helping supply water to Kenya?

  • Scientists say the structures minimize water loss through evaporation because they store water within sand.
    • By CARLOS MUREITHI
    Associated Press

    MAKUENI, Kenya — On a dry riverbed one recent sunny morning, residents of Kasengela village toiled away mixing cement and sand to make concrete. The sound of their shovels resonated through the valley while other residents, working in pairs, carried rocks to the site in wooden frames.

    They were building a sand dam, a structure for harvesting water from seasonal rivers. The barrier, typically made of concrete, impedes water flow and coarse grains of sand settle behind it, creating an artificial aquifer that fills up during rainy seasons.


     
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