Faculty of Engineering

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Browsing Faculty of Engineering by Author "Aime, Tsinda"

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    Progress of using risk assessment to manage small drinking-water supplies in Rwanda: a preliminary study
    (MDPI- Processes, 2023-03) Jo, Herschan; Aime, Tsinda; Kenan, Okurut; Rosalind, Malcolm; Daniel, J. Lapworth; Katherine, Pond
    The World Health Organization promotes risk assessment and risk management through Water Safety Plans (WSPs) as the most effective way to manage drinking-water supplies. Despite proven advantages of this approach in other regions, WSPs are still not widely used across small drinking-water supplies in Sub Saharan Africa. The aim of this research is to identify good practices and related gaps which may assist with formal uptake of WSPs for small drinking-water supplies in Rwanda. Through semi-structured interviews with the key stakeholders involved in small drinking-water supply management across Rwanda, the aim is achieved through the investigation of the following: (i) current drinking-water management challenges; (ii) stakeholder collaboration and data management activities including reporting of information; and (iii) the regulatory and policy environment. The use and awareness of WSPs in Rwanda was confirmed as low. However certain drinking-water management activities which align with the WSP methodology are being carried out. These include catchment management and stakeholder collaboration. Although legislation and policy are in place in Rwanda, communication and training of methods to implement WSPs are required to sustainably embed WSPs into practice. Several elements, including community engagement, systematic review of risks and data management, require greater focus to align with the WSP methodology. Respondents highlighted key drinking-water management challenges, including reactive budgeting and lack of sector prioritization, which could benefit from formal WSP implementation.
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    The relationship between water pressure variations and drinking-water quality in small water supplies: A case of Mukono District, Uganda
    (Environmental Challenges, 2023-09) Kenan, Okurut; Jamiru, Ntumwa; Anne, Nakagiri; Jo, Herschan; Aime, Tsinda; Rosalind, Malcolm; Dan, J Lapworth; Kathy, Pond
    The supply of a safe and adequate quantity of water is essential for human health and socioeconomic devel- opment. Physiochemical and microbiological quality of water supplied in piped distribution systems can be affected by long water residence times and travel distances. This may be due to low pressure, reservoir storage and insufficient disinfection in the system among other causes. As such, large schemes usually have mechanisms of improving the quality of water along supply and/or distribution networks at reservoir and other points. In contrast, small, piped water supply schemes rarely have the infrastructure and resources to monitor and provide treatment to the water in distribution. The objective of this study was to assess the variation of water quality and water pressure along the supply network in small, piped water systems. The study used mixed methods of quantitative water quality and pressure assessments, alongside stakeholder interviews, to investigate the vari- ability of water pressure and specific water quality parameters across the distribution network, and reliability of supply in two different small water supply schemes in the study area of Mukono, Uganda. Results showed water pressure in small, piped water supply networks have minimal influence on variation of selected water quality parameters in smaller (< 4000 m travel distances) and well operated and maintained systems. A pressure drop from 82.2 m to 22.5 m changed Turbidity by < 1, Apparent Color by < x10 and Total Dissolved Solids by < x102. Proper management of supply systems to ensure optimal residual and continuous pressure can safeguard the quality of water in the distribution systems of small piped water networks against intrusion of contaminants. Good management practice that utilizes historical operational data with continuous capacity development and training support on water quality and pressure fluctuations can significantly improve system performance to meet acceptable standards.