An Assessment of Streamflow Linkage between Land Use or Land Cover Change and In Lilongwe River Basin, Malawi

World human population has grown very rapidly in the past century. In Malawi‟s Capital City (Lilongwe) it increased by more than 3000% between 1966 and 2008 (from 19,425 to 674,448). Such rapid population growth might contribute to Land Use and Land Cover Changes (LULCC) due to pressure on land resources to meet diverse livelihoods, which in turn significantly affects the flow of water in river catchments. This study was thus conducted to evaluate LULCC in Lilongwe between 1989 and 2004 in view of the exponential population increase, and to assess the effects of LULCC on the streamflow of Lilongwe River. To evaluate LULCC, change detection analysis was carried out on Landsat imagery of the Lilongwe River catchment for the years 1989 and 2004. Data on land cover classifications, soil, rainfall, temperature, elevation and water reservoir levels in the catchment were modelled using the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to assess the effects of LULCC on streamflow in Lilongwe River. Results showed that between 1989 to 2004, a 10.7% decrease in forest cover occurred (from 63,112.6 ha to 51,034.3 ha). Furthermore, there was an increase in cropland (8.6%, from 19,249 ha to 28,911.3 ha), and a 3.5% increase in land use for settlement (from 23,535.9 ha to 27,526 ha). The resultant changes in average monthly streamflow were -0.058 m3/s during the dry season (August –November) and +1.432 m3/s during the wet season (December–March). The results establish the link between LULCC and streamflow in the catchment. Integrated catchment management practices are therefore recommended to ensure that further LULCC does not adversely affect streamflow in Lilongwe River, and the livelihoods of its beneficiaries. Key words: Land use and land cover change, Lilongwe, Lilongwe River, Streamflo, Soil Water Assessment Tool

Characterization of pit latrines to support the design and selection of emptying tools in peri-urban Mzuzu, Malawi

The urban areas of many low-income countries must balance a rising demand for pit latrines for household sanitation provision against limitations in space, resulting in a need for pit latrine emptying services. This study was undertaken in the peri-urban neighborhood of Area 1B in the city of Mzuzu, Malawi, to examine the characteristics of household pit latrines for designing and selecting pit latrine emptying tools. We used 150 structured household surveys and field observations. From this, a subset was selected and 30 manual cone penetrometer tests were conducted at full latrines. Chemical oxygen demand analysis was also performed for 14 pit latrines. The results indicated that in addition to serving as a disposal for fecal matter, 90% of households also used pit latrines for domestic waste. Only 10% of the studied pit latrines were lined. The filling rate in the study area is calculated to be about three years, and no respondents reported previous emptying. It is suggested pit latrine emptying technology development focuses on a maximum tool diameter of 10 cm to fit through the keyhole (squat hole) and height of 146 cm to fit inside the superstructure, as well as supporting unlined pits and the ability to pump trash

Design and Efficacy of Solar Disinfection System for Improved Rural Household Water Treatment

This study aimed at designing, prototyping and testing the effectiveness of a solar disinfection system for improved rural household water treatment. The system was constructed using local materials. The effectiveness and efficiency of the system to kill microorganisms were determined by using contaminated raw water samples collected from rural areas. The prototype raised the bottle water temperature from 24.3 to 66 °C. After 3 hours of exposure to intense sunlight, the water samples registered no total and faecal coliform counts in line with allowable drinking water limits by Malawi Standards and the World Health Organization. When loaded with 12 L of the contaminated water, the system scored a 10.2 % efficiency. The prototype reached disinfecting temperature faster (80 minutes) under intense sunlight conditions and worked effectively well with water of low turbidity levels. The prototype was cost-effective and easy to use, hence to be promoted for improved rural household water treatment