WATER HARVESTING AND PURIFICATION

WATER HARVESTING AND PURIFICATION

Water is an essential component for life as it supports life of both plants and animals. For aquatic organisms water acts as an habitat. Most of the human activities like fishing, irrigation are water dependent. For water to be safe and clean for human consumption should pass through the following processes

Water Harvesting (Mindu Dam)

By definition water harvesting is a technique used for collecting storing and use of water either from rain water, runoff and land surface catchment. According to Natural Resources Management and Environmental Department (2016), "Water harvesting in its broadest sense will be defined as the 'collection of runoff for its productive use'. Runoff may be harvested from roofs and ground surfaces as well as from intermittent or ephemeral water courses."
Structures such as dams are essential to be constructed in order to capture large quantities of water prior to distribution for human consumption. Mindu is a constructed dam that collects water from three tributaries namely Mzinga, Ngerengere and Pangawe. Any excess amount of water from the dam is allowed to over-fall and join a river that ultimately joins with Ruvu River. Purpose for constructing the dam was to supply water for human use in Morogoro municipal.

Mindu Dam

Water Purification (MORUWASA)

Before water from Mindu dam is distributed for human consumption; firstly is aerated by allowing to fall from a height to remove bad odour as a result incorporating oxygen. Secondly, water is chemically treated with two chemicals namely calcium hypo-chloride and aluminum sulphate, which is used for killing bacteria and other microbes, and water cleaning respectively. Thirdly, water is filtrated to remove residuals using special sand and filtering nozzles. Finally water is collected in storage tanks ready to be distributed to ultimate users of the Morogoro municipality. 
Appreciate this image showing how water is processed at MORUWASA station from Mindu dam

Water Purification Center

                      

Appreciate a video clip showing water harvesting and purification

Appreciate the audio clip explaining about water purification

Reference Links

1.BASIS OF WATER HARVESTING

2.WATER SUPPLY COVERAGE IN MOROGORO MUNICIPAL

For further understanding of the study read the following PDF document

Water Treatment procedures