Water Management Through Rainwater Harvesting, Flood Mitigation, and Greywater Reuse - A case study at a school in rural Tanzania

Abstract

Access to safe and reliable water remains a challenge in many rural areas in Tanzania, where the seasonal variations lead to problems with both water scarcity and flood risks. One site facing water management challenges is Tumaini Open School, located in a rural area in Tabora, Tanzania. This study investigates the potential of improving water management at the school through rainwater harvesting (RWH), flood mitigation, and greywater reuse. Fieldwork including collection of GPS data, water sampling, soil infiltration testing, and general site observations was conducted during a ten week visit to the site. The GPS data ant the measured soil infiltration was used in flood simulations performed in Scalgo Live, while the water samples were analysed for pH, turbidity, and conductivity. The results showed that harvesting rainwater from the roofs of the school building and storing it in a 60 000 L tank could cover a substantial part of the water demanded for irrigation and construction purposes. To ease the problem with soil erosion on the roads due to heavy rainfall, simulations proved constructing swales alongside these roads was an efficient mitigation measure. For greywater management, two low-cost filtration methods, layered filtration barrels and elevated plant filtration beds, are suggested for on-site treatment of greywater to enable greywater reuse for non-potable purposes at the site. Although the suggested interventions were not implemented on the site in this study, the findings still provide valuable insights into feasible and locally adapted water management strategies. The proposed solutions can be used to enhance water sustainability at Tumaini Open School and offer guidance on how to address water related challenges in other rural communities