Surface Water
Surface Water Department Functions
Surface Water Department deals with issues related to water on the earth’s surface. The department implements surface water activities in accordance with the Water Act 2016 or its successor. The following are functions of the department:
- Carrying out surface water resources assessment
- Monitoring surface water resources
- Carrying out hydro- meteorological data collection, analysis and dissemination
- Designing and maintaining (including station upgrades while embracing modern technologies) the hydro-meteorological network
Capacity building and development of surface water staff
Surface Water Capital Projects
Map of the 10 telemetric stations installed under Capital Projects
Construction and Rehabilitation of Water Resource Monitoring Stations
One of the capital projects funded by GoK is Construction and Rehabilitation of Water Resource Monitoring Stations. WRA is strengthening the hydro meteorological monitoring system. There has been low level of monitoring, evaluation, analysis and collection of water resources data, resulting in poor data management in the past.
Water resources data is essential for effective planning and decision making. Water resources monitoring network is improved as more coverage is necessary over time.
There is also need to strengthen the hydro meteorological information management and improve flood and drought disaster management which are urgent and priority actions in the National Water Master Plan. Quality data is essential for basin planning and for forecasting future scenarios including climate change and variability.
During the FY 2016/2017, 10No. Stations were identified for rehabilitation and upgrading to telemetry stations. The installation of these stations has been completed.
What is Telemetry?
Telemetry is an automated communications process by which measurements and other data are collected at remote or inaccessible points and transmitted to receiving equipment for monitoring.
DATA TRANSMISSION
Most of the installed telemetry stations are successfully sending logged data to the installed data collection server at WRA HQ.
Screenshot of Data Transmitting from six Telemetry Stations
Challenges
- Working at some of the RGS sites was difficult and risky because of crocodiles.
- High river water levels at the time of the installations.
- Difficulties in accessing some of the sites due to rains and tough terrains.
- Vandalism/malicious damage of equipment e.g. at RGS 3F09. The damaged cable was repaired.
- Station washed away by flush floods e.g. at Isiolo RGS5D07. The station has been reinstalled and water level sensor replaced.
- Accidental damage of water level sensor by WRA staff on a maintenance mission e.g. at RGS 3BA29. The sensor has since been replaced.
- Poor GSM signal e.g. at RGS 1FG02. Despite trying different GSM providers SIM Cards and swooping the logger from an already transmitting station, the station is yet to transmit data. The station only transmitted data for a short while after initial installation and then stopped. The logger is capturing data which is periodically downloaded.
The sensor housing tube securely welded on to the steel post
