ISSN 2375-0936
African Journal of Water Conservation and Sustainability ISSN 2375-0936 Vol. 9 (4), pp. 001-016, April, 2021. © International Scholars Journals
Full length Research Paper
Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Wateryards in Western Sudan
Hamid Omer Ali
Hydrotech Consult, Sheikh Amin building, POB 1875, Khartoum, Sudan.
Accepted 05 April, 2021
Abstract
Wateryards are the most common water supply source in western Sudan. Components of a wateryard include: a borehole fitted with an engine-driven pump, an elevated tank, animal watering troughs and taps for human use. Despite efforts to rehabilitate and upgrade the functionality of wateryards, their sustainability- in terms of water productivity (quantity), quality, accessibility, reliability and the affordability of the water produced - was short-lived. Within a few years most wateryards had deteriorated to their pre-rehabilitation condition. Factors such as the quantity of livestock that rely on the wateryards, the extent of (excessive) use, the yield potential, the existence of nearby alternative water source(s), the degree of community participation in the management of the wateryard, the misuse of water revenues, and the ready availability of fuel and spare parts all had an impact on the sustainability of the rehabilitated wateryards in western Sudan. With due consideration to these factors, sustainable water supply sources cannot be achieved without considering technical, institutional, environmental, economic and social factors within the broader context of the key principles and good practices of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
Keywords: Kordofan State; Sudan; Water supply systems; Sustainability of wateryards.