Lake Challa Water Resources

Integrated Development Project

Coast Development Authority

PROJECT SUMMARY
Project Location:
Lake Challa Water Resources Integrated Development Project is primarily located in the Taveta District which
forms part of the bigger Taita-Taveta County. The project also covers some areas in the lower Mwatate
District (Mwaktau Division) and the western part of Kinango District.
Objective of the Project
The main objective of the Lake Challa Water Resources Integrated Development Project is to improve the
living standards of Taveta residents through Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development. This shall be
accomplished by;
Provision of water for domestic, irrigation and livestock uses.
Increasing food production for domestic use, export market and Income generation.
Enhancement of environment conservation and sanitation.
Promotion of eco-tourism.
Creation of employment for youth and women.
Lake Challa
Lake Challa is situated on the western side of Taveta District. It is a volcanic crater fresh water Lake on the
South Eastern slopes of the Kilimanjaro Range 45 km south of the summit and about 10 km North of Taveta
town on the Kenya Tanzanian border. It is a volcanic crater fresh water lake.
Latitude: - 3015 and 3025 S; Longitudes: - 370 40' and 37045E; Surface Area: - 3.44 km2 Depth = 100 m
Volume of water in the lake is approximately 300 to 350 million cubic meters.

KEY FINDINGS, RESULTS, RECOMMENDATIONS

Mean Monthly Climatical Data for Project area
Item
Temp.(Max) (0C)
Temp.(Min) (0C)
Open Water Surface Evaporation (mm/day)
Relative Humidity (%)

Description
30.4
16.6
5.28
61.2

Item
Daily Wind Run (km/day)
Sunshine hours (h)
Mean Rainfall (mm)

Description
141
12
673

Soil Chemical Characteristics of Project Area

Area
Remarks
The soils are well suited for irrigation on the account of their very favourable
Kilanga
chemical and physical characteristics.
Soils are well suited for irrigation due to their lack of salinity, high fertility
Challa (near Market)
and good physical properties.
Soils not suited for irrigation due to their very shallow depth in spite of having
Nakuruto
good chemical properties.
Based on the available physical and chemical characteristics, the soils are
Timbila
suited for irrigation.
The soils in the upper areas are well drained and are irrigable. However, the
Jipe
soils close to the lake have high salinity and sodicity levels, and would not be
easy to drain.
Based on the available physical and chemical characteristics, the soils are
Mwaktau
suited for irrigation.

Detailed Design Report

PROJECTS FACTS

1|P age

Lake Challa Water Resources

Integrated Development Project
Water Resources

Coast Development Authority

Two options were identified as potential sources of water for irrigation and domestic use.

Option 1; Lake Challa and Lake Jipe

Option 2; Groundwater from boreholes

From analysis, it was found that;

Over 7,000,000 m3 of water per year can be abstracted from Lake Challa without negatively affecting
the lake levels.
3 boreholes (2 at Kilanga Scheme and one situated at Nakuruto Kasokoni producing 400 m3 per hour
each and 100 m3 per hour respectively) can in combination provide over 7.0 million m3 per year.
Quality of Irrigation Water
The water quality is satisfactory and suitable for irrigation purposes and can be used on most soils and crops.
Its the main raw material required for the operation of the irrigation and domestic water supply system.
Electricity
The electric power will be sourced from the national power grid with a connection being done from the HT
power line running along the Taveta Challa Road. Electricity will be supplied by the Kenya Power Company
(KPC) on a commercial basis.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The major output of the Lake Challa Water Resources Integrated Development will be;
Development of an irrigation system that will cover 1020 ha at (five) 5 sites. These are Kilanga site,
Challa Irrigation Scheme, Timbila Scheme, Jipe Settlement Scheme and Mwaktau.
Nakuruto/Kasokoni area will also be supplied with raw water whose uses will be determined by
residents.
Setting up of a domestic water supply system for households, livestock, fisheries and forestry.
Provision of water for wildlife within the park.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE DESIGNED PROJECT
Population of Taveta District: 67,023; Land area: 4,205.63(Taveta District).
Major economic activities of Taveta District: Farming, Fishing, Quarrying and small scale trade.
Recharge/Discharge of the lake
Lake Challa is recharged by aquifers between 817m and 698m above sea level. The aquifers benefit from the
groundwater flows from the Kilimanjaro Region in the west and bounded by the fresh Basement System of
rocks in the East. Water flows in and out of the lake through these aquifers.
The groundwater basin is recharged by precipitation on Mt Kilimanjaro and local rainfall. The nearby springs
also get their recharge from the ground water basin.
Aerial Extent of the groundwater basin is approximately 10,500 Square Kilometres. Recharge in the basin
approximates 5,250 million Cubic Metres per year.
Table: Lake Challa Water Balance
No.

Component

Groundwater inflow

Gin

Measurement in m
8,115,279

Groundwater outflow

Gout

122,095

Detailed Design Report

Abbreviation

PROJECTS FACTS

2|P age

No.

Lake Challa Water Resources

Integrated Development Project
Component

Coast Development Authority

Abbreviation

Precipitation falling in the lake

Pl

Measurement in m
3,197,136

Precipitation falling in the entire Watershed

Pw

15,084,162

5
6

Evaporation from the lake

Change in storage

El
S

3,612,000
7,578,320

Pumping from the Lake at a rate of 30,000cubic metres per day will have minimal effect on the Lake water
level.
Boreholes
From the Hydrogeological study of the Lake Challa Watershed Area and the simulation results of the
exploratory boreholes in the Challa Irrigation Scheme and at Nakuruto Kasokoni, sustainable discharges for
each borehole within the Challa/Kilanga area were estimated to be 400 m3/h and 100 m3/h at Kasokoni.
Based on the above, water will be sourced and abstracted from three boreholes to be developed in the Kilanga,
Challa and Nakuruto/Kasokoni areas. The total available water from the boreholes will be 1,200 m3/h.
Hydrogeological and Geological Setting of Lake Challa Watershed
Hydro-geology of Lake Challa catchment area is defined by the Kilimanjaro aquifer. The aquifer includes the
volcanic pyroclastic and volcanic alluvium deposits found at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and extending
across the Kenyan-Tanzanian border. These deposits form basins which extend outward from the mountain and
are limited by the surrounding Precambrian Basement rocks.
Lake Challa is part of the aquifer and its recharge and discharge is strongly linked to the volcanic pyroclastic
and volcanic alluvium deposits which allow percolation through the faults, fractures and weathered zones. The
surrounding Precambrian Basement rocks, which are impermeable zones, enhance groundwater storage and
transmission within the aquifer by preventing transmission out of the aquifer.
IRRIGABLE LAND, PLANNED AREAS
Five sites i.e. Kilanga, existing Challa Irrigation Scheme, Timbila, Jipe and Mwaktau have been identified as
being suitable for development of the irrigation schemes based on agricultural suitability, soil profile,

flooding conditions and topography of the site.

Kilanga Site

Situated next to Lake Challa and between Taveta Loitoktok road to the east and Kenya Tanzania
border to the west.
Land presently occupied by about 120m households and used for farming and rearing of livestock.
Size of the scheme will be 140 ha. With 100 ha being used as a demonstration farm and the rest used
for construction of a reservoir, administration block and processing and value addition facilities.
Land is flat to very gently undulating with slopes ranging from 0.5% to 2% towards the west.
Soils are well suited for irrigation on the account of their favourable chemical and physical
characteristics.

Challa Scheme

Located in an alluvial plain North- west of Challa market and about 20 km north east of Lake

Challa.

It is an existing irrigation scheme approximately 1680 Ha, owned by Challa Co-operative Society. It
relies on water supplied from Lumi River. The water is however not enough and more water to
compensate for the deficiency needs to be supplied.
The area is flat with slopes ranging from 0.5% to 1% towards the North.

Detailed Design Report

PROJECTS FACTS

3|P age

Lake Challa Water Resources

Integrated Development Project
Coast Development Authority
There are no settlements within the Scheme, but people are settled within the surrounding areas.
Timbila Site

The Timbila site is located approximately 12 km south of Lake Challa and 4 km east of Taveta Town
The area has a gentle north-south slope of about 1% and there is a significant topographical height
difference of about 100 m between the site and Lake Challa.
The project area covers 2500 acres and has a population of approx. 300 households.

Jipe Settlement Scheme

The Scheme is located approximately 10 km southeast of Timbila and stretches from Voi-Taveta
road to the northern shores of Lake Jipe in the south and borders Tsavo West National Park to the
east. It has an area is about 10,000 ha.
The area was designated by the Kenyan Government as part of a new rural development area and
was subdivided into several plots to individuals ranging from 15 to 25 acres. There are about 600
households resident in the scheme but most of the plots are yet to be settled. The area is woodland
currently being used for grazing.
The topography is flat to very gently undulating with slopes ranging from 0 to 2% towards South and
South west.
Based on their physical and chemical characteristics, the soils on the upper part of the scheme are
suitable for irrigation, but are susceptible to gully erosion.

Mwaktau

The Mwaktau Site is located approximately 50 km from Timbila site (about halfway between Taveta
and Voi by road) and has a population of about 10,000 people.
The area is flat to gently undulating with slopes ranging from 0.5% to 2% towards the East and South
East.
The physical and chemical characteristics of these soils indicate that they are suitable for irrigation.

Nakuruto

This area is located on the eastern slopes of Challa crater.

The area is undulating with slopes ranging from 5 to10% towards the east.
The vegetation in the area is wooded grassland most of which is used for cultivation or grazing.
The soils are good for agricultural purposes.

Proposed Annual Irrigable Areas

Site
Kilanga Pilot Project

Status
Proposed

Remarks
New Development

Mode of irrigation
Drip (80 ha)

Area (ha)
200
200
90
200
930
400
2,020

Challa (Existing Scheme)

Nakuruto

Existing
Proposed

Extension
New Development

Sprinkler(120 ha)
Surface Irrigation
Surface Irrigation

Timbilla(Existing Scheme)
Jipe Settlement Scheme
Mwaktau
Total

Existing
Proposed
Proposed

Extension
New Development
New Development

Surface Irrigation
Surface Irrigation
Surface Irrigation

Proposed Cropping Pattern by Project Areas

Season

Crop

Maize
Detailed Design Report

Area (ha)
Kilanga
Challa
Pilot
Scheme
Scheme
20

PROJECTS FACTS

Nakuruto

Timbila
Scheme

Jipe
Scheme

Mwaktau
Scheme

10

20

100

40

Total
(ha)

190
4|P age

Lake Challa Water Resources

Integrated Development Project
Season
Crop
Area (ha)
Kilanga
Pilot
Scheme
Beans
Green grams Cowpeas
Tomatoes
20
Season
Kales
10
One
Sunflower
(March
Bananas
20
to July
Melons
10
paw paws
20
Onions
10
Chillies
10
Sub-total
100
Maize
Beans
Green grams Cowpeas
Tomatoes
20
Season
Kales
10
Two
Sunflower
(Sept
Bananas
20
to Jan)
Melons
10
Paw paws
20
Onions
10
Chillies
10
Sub-total
100
TOTAL
200

Challa
Scheme

Nakuruto

10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
100
20
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
100
200

5
5
5
5
5
5
5
45
10
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
45
90

Coast Development Authority

Total
Timbila
Jipe
Mwaktau (ha)
Scheme
Scheme
Scheme
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
100
20
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
100
200

45
30
20
25
100
10
75
50
10
465
100
45
30
20
25
100
10
75
50
10
465
930

15
15
15
15
40
5
25
25
5
200
40
15
15
15
15
40
5
25
25
5
200
400

60
45
60
40
35
40
185
50
145
110
50
1,010
190
60
45
60
40
35
40
185
50
145
110
50
1,010
2,020

DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY

Domestic water supply has also been incorporated in the project for areas that experience acute water
shortages. These are Kasaani in Jipe, Kidongu, Nakuruto/Kasokoni, Mwaktau Trading Centre and Kwa
Mnengwa.
Forestry
The forest and tree establishment will be done along the following areas;
Rehabilitation of Lake Challa escarpment - This covers the outskirt of Lake Challa crater which is steep
with high vegetation degradation and soil erosion. 255 ha and a perimeter of 10km have been identified.
Rehabilitation of Kedong Hill This is situated within Timbila scheme, and covers an area of 130 ha and a
perimeter of 4km.
Rehabilitation of Salaita Hill The hill has an area of 11 ha and a boundary of 1km.
Agroforestry in proposed Challa, Timbila and L. Jipe Irrigation Schemes At each of these schemes,
10% of the area will be put under tree cover. This will be done in different configurations including strip tree
planting, boundary tree planting, planting along canals, woodlots, pockets of forest, rehabilitation of degraded
areas and roadside tree planting.
Detailed Design Report

PROJECTS FACTS

5|P age

Lake Challa Water Resources

Integrated Development Project
Coast Development Authority
River - line and springs Rehabilitation of 30% of the river line with a total length of 12km shall be done.
Natural springs will be rehabilitated to ensure integrity.
Farmland - Fast growing trees species which yield required wood and non wood products will be introduced.
Fisheries
Fish ponds, dams and rehabilitation of wetlands such as rivers, Lake Jipe and springs shall be done, to increase
fish farming in the project area by 30%.
IRRIGATION WATER DEMAND, DOMESTIC WATER DEMAND & DOMESTIC & IRRIGATION
WATER SUPPLY
Water demand requirements of various project areas for irrigation, domestic needs and others;
No. Site

Total Demand (m3/year)

Average
Irrigation
Irrigation
Water
Water
Demand
Demand
3
(m /year)
(m3/day)

Domestic
Water
Demand
(m3/year)

Domestic
Demand
(m3/day)

Total
Demand
3
(m /year)

Kilanga

810,307

2,214

810,307

Challa

881,823

2,410

881,823

404,834

1,107

58,552

160

463,386

Nakuruto/Kasokoni
Timbilla/
Kidongu

881,823

2,410

44,297

121

926,120

Jipe

4,692,931

12,823

53,351

146

4,746,282

Mwaktau

1,935,868

5,290

120,400

330

2,056,268

125,369

343

125,369

45,000

123

45,000

Msorongo
Environment
Conservation
Wildlife
(Tsavo
National Park)

91,250

250

91,250

10

Fisheries

20,000

55

20,000

558,219

1,528

10,145,806

Total

9,607,587

Water demand tabulation is based on a projection up to the ultimate year of 2035. This was derived from
population projection using population growth of 1.8%.
Water Supply
Water will be sourced from Lake Challa and two boreholes. The water abstracted will then be used for
irrigation, domestic, livestock and wildlife within the Taveta Mwaktau corridor.
The following table shows amounts of abstractions considered from the two sources;
Recommended Abstraction Rates from Sources
Source

Capacity in Pumping
m3/hr
Hours
Lake Challa
400
20
Boreholes
400
20
Total water supply for entire project
Detailed Design Report

No.
of Abstraction
Boreholes (m3/day)
8,000
3
24,000
32,000

PROJECTS FACTS

No.
of
working days
330
330

Volume
(m3/year)
2,640,000
7,920,000
10,560,000
6|P age

Lake Challa Water Resources

Integrated Development Project
The system;

Coast Development Authority

Intake: Will consist of two submersible pumps, one on duty and one standby, in a pump house built on girders
on a floating pontoon.
Raw water pipeline: Two main pipelines have been designed for. One will convey water from Lake Challa
and the other from the boreholes. The two pipelines merge to deliver water to 1000m3 reinforced concrete tank
to be located at the top rim of Lake Challa.
Lake Challa tank: The tank with a capacity of 1000m3 is strategically located to command flow of water via
gravity to the entire project save for Mwaktau which is at a higher ground level.
Reservoirs: The project is designed to hold three major water storage earth-fill reservoirs as follows: Kilanga 75,000 m3; Jipe - 75,000m3; Mwaktau - 65000m3.
Timbila tank: The 1000m3 reinforced concrete tank will hold water for irrigation in the Timbila area.
Transmission pipelines: Water will be conveyed in all the pipelines by gravity except for Jipe Mwaktau
KwaMnegwa pipeline which is a pumping mains from Jipe to Mwaktau.
Domestic water supply: Elevated steel water tanks of capacity 200m3 have been provided for in Mwaktau and
Kasaani area, a 250m3 concrete tank provided for at Kwa Mnengwa and Kidongu and a 1000m3 elevated steel
tank at Nakurito. The location and design of the tanks allow the supply in the respective area by gravity.
Ancillary Works: These include administration building and laboratory, staff houses, site drainage,

workshop, pump house, access road and power supply.

Cost Estimate and financial aspects for important components;
Development and equipping of three boreholes

KSH 73.74 million

Intake Works at Lake Challa

KSH 73.80

Transmission Pipelines

KSH 1,076.05 million

Civil Works including reservoirs

KSH 976.24

million
million

Project Phasing
For speedy implementation of the Project, it proposed that the project be implemented in three phases as
described below;
1. Phase One to cover Kilanga Pilot Irrigation Project and the existing Challa Irrigation Scheme
2. Phase Two to include Timbila and Jipe Irrigation Schemes (including provision of domestic water within the
areas covered by the pipelines)
3. Phase Three to include Mwaktau Irrigation Schemes (including provision of domestic water within the areas
covered by the pipelines)

Detailed Design Report

PROJECTS FACTS

7|P age