Authors: Tibor Stigter - Associate Professor, Michel Frem, PhD Researcher
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
EU project ESSA: IHE Delft responsible for hydrological study of two natural water towers: tropical mountain systems providing freshwater for household use and food production.
▪ Evidence from recharge, discharge and hydrochemistry observations shows that geological faults play an important role in highland – lowland water transmissions.
▪ The main river of Taita Hills changes its behavior along its course, also due to offtake for consumption, becoming "older" and with a stronger lowland signature.
▪ Land use change, in particular increasing cropland area and plantation forest, has decreased the water retention potential of the catchment.
▪ Increased water use is an additional major driver of reduced flow in the dry season, where demand exceeds available flow in dry years.
▪ Strategies for adaptation, including control of water use, reduction of runoff and increase of recharge, will be further evaluated with the model.