http://repository.pauwes-cop.net/handle/1/294 2026-07-26T17:35:39Z http://repository.pauwes-cop.net/handle/1/501 EXAMINING HOUSEHOLD COPING STRATEGIES FOR WATER ACCESS CHALLENGES IN INFORMAL URBAN SETTLEMENTS: THE CASE OF CHINSAPO #1, LILONGWE CITY, MALAWI ALINAFE FAVOUR, KANYIMBO Access to safe water is vital for human health and environmental sustainability. However, in informal settlements, persistent water access issues are widespread, prompting residents to develop various coping mechanisms to sustain their livelihoods. This study explored the coping strategies employed by residents of Chinsapo 1# in Lilongwe to overcome water access challenges. A mixed methods approach was used, combining both qualitative and quantitative research designs with simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 82 households, 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with Chinsapo 1# residents, and 8 key informant interviews were held with representatives from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Lilongwe Water Board, and Malili Water Users Association. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and Excel to generate descriptive statistics, while thematic analysis was applied to identify key themes in the qualitative data. The findings indicated that the majority of residents (96.2%) relied on water kiosks due to financial barriers preventing direct piped water connections. However, issues such as inconsistent supply and limited financial resources led residents to adopt alternative coping mechanisms, including sourcing water from unprotected rivers and neighboring areas and reducing overall consumption. The Lilongwe Water Board's limited production capacity of 100m³/day, compared to the required 150m³/day, resulted in rationing, exacerbating access challenges. These issues disrupted daily activities, imposed additional financial burdens, posed health risks, and necessitated long-distance travel to access water. The study emphasizes the urgent need for improved water access in Chinsapo 1# and recommends increasing funding to expand water treatment plant capacity, as well as subsidizing piped water connections for low-income households to ensure a more reliable and affordable water supply The main objective of the study was to examine household coping strategies for water access challenges in informal urban settlements: the case of Chinsapo #1, Lilongwe City, Malawi 2025-01-13T00:00:00Z http://repository.pauwes-cop.net/handle/1/190 The case for non-revenue water: Kenya Wainaina, George Kiambuthi It is clear that cities might eventually run dry if they do not plan their water resources and requirements effectively. A recent case being Cape Town, South Africa. Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company on the Eastern part of Africa run water and sewer services for Nairobi Kenya and majorly depends on Ndakaini dam as its main water source. The dam’s water level has constantly been running low from 2016 to 2017 due to effects of drought. In early 2018, the levels had lowered to alarming rates leading to frequent rationing. Increased population due to rural urban migration has also increased domestic water requirements. Drought and population however may not be the only contributors to frequent water rationing in the cities. Other towns are also experiencing perennial water rationing due to the low efficiency of the water utilities supplying the water to the consumers. This inefficiency consequently reflects in increased non-revenue water (NRW) levels. NRW is known to be a big determinant of the sustainability of any given water utility and hence high NRWs reflect low efficiency and low creditworthiness index. 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z http://repository.pauwes-cop.net/handle/1/183 The Effect of Land Use Systems on Soil Properties; A Case Study from Rwanda Bizuhoraho, Theobald; Kayiranga, Alexis; Manirakiza, Noel; Mourad, Khaldoon A. Land use change has a significant impact on the ecosystem. In this paper the effects of land use change on the physicochemical properties of the soil in Rulindo District, Rwanda have been studied. Three different land use types were selected; forestland, cattle farmland and cultivated land. A randomised complete block research design was used to carry out this research. Nine soil samples were collected and then analysed. The distributed samples were analysed in the Soil Laboratory of University of Rwanda-Busogo campus, while the undisturbed samples were analysed in-situ. Eight physicochemical properties were measured: pH, Organic Matter (OM), available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, soil bulk density, moisture content and porosity. The results showed that changing land use from forest or farm to cultivated land reduced the organic matter, available nitrogen, soil moisture and porosity while bulk density and pH were significantly increasing. On the other hand, the exchangeable potassium and exchangeable phosphorus did not change significantly for the both land use changes. Hence, the reduction of forestland and farmland are highly sensible to erosion and will decline soil fertility. The paper proposed few steps and recommendations to be the base for a new sustainable land use management in Rwanda. 2018-01-30T00:00:00Z http://repository.pauwes-cop.net/handle/1/181 Uncertainty Analysis and Calibration of SWAT Model for Estimating Impacts of Conservation Methods on Streamflow and Sediment Yield in Thika River Catchment, Kenya Gathagu, John Ng’ang’a; Mutua, Benedict Mwavu; Mourad, Khaldoon A.; Oduor, Brian Omondi Despite their imperative role in water resources management, distributed hydrological models like SWAT require calibration that can be challenging due to uncertainties of parameters involved. Prior to modelling of hydrological processes, these parameters and their uncertainty range need to be identified. The objective of this study was to conduct uncertainty analysis of hydrological processes and to calibrate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for stream flow and sediment yield modelling in Thika River catchment. Sequential Uncertainty Fitting program (SUFI-2) was used to conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. Stream flow was calibrated and validated between the years 1998 to 2013 for gauging stations 4CB05 and 4CB04. Manual sediments calibration was achieved by constraining the MUSLE parameters using the bathymetric survey data. Two uncertainty indices, p and r factor, were obtained as 0.72 and 0.65, 0.65 and 0.45 during calibration and validation, respectively. Statistical performance indicators showed a good match between the observed and simulated values which indicated that the model was well calibrated for simulation of stream flow and sediments yield in the catchment. 2018-01-31T00:00:00Z