African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN 2375-0936 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-016, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Diel Physico-Chemical Cycles in a Semi-Arid Zimbabwean River

Clifford Tafangenyasha¹*, Brian E. Marshall² and Lawrence T. Dube¹

¹Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Zululand, P. Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, RSA, Uganda.
²Lake Victoria Fisheries, P. O. Box 1625, Jinja, Uganda.

Accepted 5 October, 2025

Using data from southeast Zimbabwe intensive agricultural zone we investigated diurnal changes in the Runde River to discover the variations that can occur in the control and test sites of agricultural development. This should predict how the aquatic ecosystem responds when ’stressed' by human activities, such as runoff from the land. Diurnal changes were studied at a resolution of 2 h intervals between 0500 and 0600 h in the control sites and test sites of an area with agricultural development in July 2005 and 2006. The observations gave same results. The diurnal fluctuations are characterized by sharp rises and gradual declines each day. The maximal and minimal points in diurnal changes can be useful biogeochemical signatures for describing the fluvial conditions of a river in a river basin. Significant associations (R2 = 0.64, y = -1.30 x +24.93, P = 0.03) between measured dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/l) and temperature (°C) were demonstrated during the daytime only in the site above the effluent outfall. Insignificant associations (R2 = 0.04, y = -032 x +13.94, P = 0.75) between measured dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/l) and temperature (°C) were demonstrated during the nighttime in the site above effluent outfall. This suggests that there was more dissolved oxygen concentration added during the day than at night at the site above the outfall. The coefficients of determination between dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/l) and temperature (°C) for the daytime and nighttime were R2 = 0.35 and R2 = 0.29, respectively, for site below the outfall. There were almost identical regression lines demonstrated during the daytime and nighttime below the outfall, an indication that oxygen demanding wastes deplete dissolved oxygen concentration. No significant associations were found between dissolved oxygen and temperature during the daytime and nighttime below the outfall. This study indicates that fluvial conditions characterized by fluctuations in diurnal changes may be a strong signature to catchment activities but need to be looked at in conjunction with other fluvial measures such as flow rate, depth and channel discharge that may also be naturally challenging to aquatic organisms.

Key words: Zimbabwe, savanna semi-arid lowland river, diurnal changes, aquatic organisms.

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN 2375-0936 Vol. 13 (12), pp. 001-017, December, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Framework analysis of SDG 6.5.1 implementation in Cameroon: Yaoundé city case study

Stephane Lako Mbouendeu¹, Jamiilah Ngougoure Ngapout², Celestin Defo³, Gloria Eneke Takem⁴, Wilson Yetoh Fantong⁵

¹Water For life Cameroon.
²Pan-African University, Institute for water and energy sciences (including climate change)
³University of Ebolowa, Institute of Agricultural, Wood, Water, and Environmental Sciences.
⁴Water resources and Climate Change Research Center.
⁵Geologic and Mine Research Institute.

Abstract

Received 08 November, 2025; Revised 22 November, 2025; Accepted 23 November, 2025; Published 14 December, 2025
 
Water resources management literature flourishes on quality, quantity and dynamics texts but few address institutional setting, programs and competences. Moreover, most are global or nation-based. This article seeks to include the subnational level of SDG 6.5.1 implementation analysis in a fast-growing city like Yaoundé. This is done through a framework analysis using strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats and program analysis approaches, considering the four pillars of IWRM monitoring, globally agreed and used. Analysis for Yaoundé reveals there is no specific city framework, it aligns with the national framework which is characterized by a strong institutional and regulatory framework with several transboundary, international and national instruments to address water challenges at country level. At city level, awareness about national policy and potential benefit of IWRM is still lagging. Programs analyzed showed that most efforts are geared towards drinking water and flood protection, few initiatives on the last decade addressed favorable environment, participation and institutions. Thus, additional efforts are required to improve on operational mechanisms, planning, investment and programs addressing cities IWRM. Globally, framework analysis can be considered as a complementary approach to SDG 6.5.1 implementation scoring. This helps finetune the identification of key priority actions driving IWRM implementation at city level for less advanced countries. 

Keywords: Water management, SWOT, framework analysis, IWRM, Yaoundé, SDG 6.5.1, urban water governance, sustainable cities.
 

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN 2375-0936 Vol. 13 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

A Systems Approach to Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management

Bloodless Dzwairo1*, Fred A. O. Otieno2 and George M. Ochieng1

1Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Civil Engineering Department, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
2Durban University of Technology, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, P. O. Box 1334, 4000, South Africa.

Accepted 22 April, 2025

While definite benefits could be gained from integrating the management of natural and human systems, taking into account the effects of human activities on the environment, the task of operationalising and implementing this approach in practice represents an enormous challenge. Some limitations highlighted include the definition of IWRM itself, where it appears to be broad, all- encompassing and impressive, but contains ‘‘lofty phrases’’ that have little practical importance for either present or future water management practices. This paper makes recommendations to uptake and incorporate the systems thinking approach (STA) in IWRM decision making processes, an approach envisaged to be more participatory and also process-oriented. Incorporation of socio- economic dynamics is also recommended, with a suggestion that the biophysical relationships like interactions in a basin between water, the human population and settlements should be analysed to the extent possible.

Key words: operationalising IWRM, socio-economic dynamics, South Africa, systems thinking approach.
 

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN 2375-0936 Vol. 13 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Soil Erosion Risk Assessment and Prioritization in Micro Watersheds using RS and GIS

Vipul Shinde*, K. N. Tiwari and Manjushree Singh

Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India-721302, India.

Accepted May 28, 2025

Degradation of agricultural land by soil erosion is worldwide phenomenon leading to loss of nutrient- rich surface soil, increased run off from more impermeable subsoil and decreased water availability to plant. Thus estimation of soil loss and identification of critical area for implementation of best management practice is central to success of soil conservation programme. In this study universal soil loss equation (USLE) interactively with raster-based geographic information system (GIS) has been applied to calculate potential soil loss at micro watershed level in the Konar basin of upper Damodar Valley Catchment of India. The main advantage of the GIS methodology is in providing quick information on the estimated value of soil loss for any part of the investigated area. The rainfall erosivity R-factor of USLE was found as 293.96 and the soil erodibility K-factor varies from 0.325 - 0.476. Slopes in the catchment varied between 0 and 83% having LS factor values ranging from 0 - 6.7. The C- factor values were computed from existing cropping patterns in the catchment and support practice P- factors were assigned by studying land slope. Average annual soil erosion at micro watershed level in Konar basin having 961.4 km2 areas was estimated as 1.68 t/ha/yr. Further, micro watershed priorities have been fixed on the basis of soil erosion risk to implement management practices in micro watersheds which will reduce soil erosion in Konar basin.

Key words: Remote sensing, soil erosion, geographic information system, universal soil loss equation, priority.
 

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN 2375-0936 Vol. 13 (8), pp. 001-008, August, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Optimizing Hydropower Plant Performance through Reservoir Operation Modeling

T. G. Bosona* and G. Gebresenbet

Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7032, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.

Accepted 3 April, 2025

One way of improving water management is increasing the efficiency of utilization of dam reservoirs. Even small improvement in reservoir operation can lead to large benefits. But there is no universal solution for reservoir operation problems. Hence, it is necessary to study the system and determine optimal reservoir operation guides for each scheme. In the present study, Melka Wakana Hydropower Plant in Ethiopia has been modeled and studied. The tool used was Powersim Simulation software. Mean monthly data of reservoir inflow, evaporation rate, recorded energy production; recorded discharge (turbine flow) and recorded reservoir elevation were used as time series input data. Different variables and relationships between variables were defined along with the constraints. After developing and calibrating the model successfully, detailed simulation analysis has been carried out by controlling reservoir releases for energy production, taking into consideration; increasing yearly energy production and improving the uniformity of monthly energy production. The results of the simulation analyses indicated that the yearly energy production was increased by 5.67% while evaporation loss was reduced by 38.33%. But this power plant still produces below its design capacity by 12.21%.The uniformity of monthly energy production from this plant was also improved. The new reservoir operation guide curve has been developed for the optimum energy production from this plant.

Key words: Guide curve, simulation model, reservoir operation, hydropower, energy production, water resources management.
 

African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN 2375-0936 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-008, July, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Predicting Groundwater Levels in Hard Rock Regions Using Artificial Neural Networks

Ranu Rani Sethi1*, A. Kumar1, S. P. Sharma2 and H. C. Verma3

1Directorate of Water Management (ICAR), Bhubaneswar-751023, Orissa, India.
2Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow-226021, Uttar Pradesh, India.
3Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR), Lucknow-227107, Uttar Pradesh, India.
 

Accepted 18 May, 2025

The objectives of this study were to determine the factors that influence and control the water table fluctuation in a specific geomorphologic situation, to develop a forecasting model and examine its potential in predicting water table depth using limited data. Prediction of region specific water table fluctuation would certainly guide the way towards conceiving, designing and taking scientific measures to ensure sustainable groundwater management. Analysis of change in groundwater table depth, groundwater flow directions within the watershed showed that the influencing factors of rainfall, groundwater draft from near by structures and the resulting fluctuation in groundwater table depth were well correlated in a specific geological situation. Models for prediction of water table depth were developed based on artificial neural networks (ANNs). The study employed multilayer feed forward neural network with backpropagation learning method to develop the model. The neural networks with different numbers of hidden layer neurons were developed using 4 years (2005 - 2008) monthly rainfall, potential evapotranspiration (PET), and water table depth from nearby, influencing wells data as input and one month ahead water table depth as output. The best model was selected based on the root mean square error (RMSE) of prediction using independent test data set. The results of the study clearly showed that ANN can be used to predict water table depth in a hard rock aquifer with reasonably good accuracy even in case of limited data situation.

Key words: Water table fluctuation, rainfall, groundwater draft, ANN.