Shallow Alluvial Aquifers for SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION (With Referen.Ce to Zimbabwe)
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"V" ,.."..,.",. ,.". ,.",.. -r ......... t t "",,,,,,"""V ........ -r ........ ....,.. -v-r~""'" t t t -- "Y"__ ............. --"'" -rv.... __ V' y-.r -or ,.,...r~ ' t t t t t -tttttttttt tttttttttittttt tt t ttit t tttt t ttt tittt tttt. i tt ttt tttttttttttttttttttttl t tt tt t t t t t t t . t t t t t t t r tit i t 1- t tt t t +t t t tt t ttt-tttttt ttt t j t t t t t t t L/IIIIVERSITY OF ZIM8ABWE 1989 t t 1- \ t t t t t t t t t t SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY t t t t r i t t t tt t-\tt tttt tttHttttttttttHt THE USE OF SHALLOW ALLUVIAL AQUIFERS FOR SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION with reference to Zimbabwe by Richard 1. S. OWEN. Senior Research Fellow Civil Engineering Department. University of Zimbabwe. in association with: Janusz Rydzewslci Director, InstitUle of Irrigation Studies. Southampton University. UK. Alan Windram Irrigation Consultant. Zimbabwe. Final Repon of ODA Project R4239. November 1989 SUMMARY This report presents the results ora research projcctjoinLly funded by the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) of UK. The wor1c was carried out by !.he Department of Civil Engineering, University of Zimbabwe with supervision from the Institute of Irrigation Studies (liS), University of Southampton. It arosc from the concept of shallow ground-water as a widely dispersed, easily cx.pioiLed water resource and complements other ODA-UZ funded research such as the Dambo (wcLJand) Project and the Simple Irrigation Pumps project 'The report investigated shallow alluvial aquifers associated with present day river systems in the communal areas of Zimbabwc. The purpose afLhe investigation was to ascertain the extent of the walCrresourccs in these aquifers and to establish their suitability for use in small scale irrigation development projects. The occurrence of alluvial deposits in the specified areas has been mapped using aerial photography and parameters relating to their deposition have been identified. AQuifervolumcs and available water resources have tx:en estimated. Two alluvial aquifers havc becn developed using different tcehniques of drilling and well digging. These excavations have been geologically logged and the aquifer sediments have tx:en sieve analysed. TIle holes have been pump tested to ascertain well yields and water samples have been tested for irrigation water qUality. Agricultural soil surveys and geophysical surveys have been carried oulon these two aquifers. Different types of manual pumps were installed and small garden irrigation systems were developed. The institutional and community aspects of this type of development have been considered. The report is intended to fonn the basis for the funherdevelopmem ofinfonnal garden/subsistence irrigation from shallow ground water in alluvial aquifers. b CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii LIST OF APPENDlCIES VIII PREFACE ix Participants and Staffing. Funding. Duration. Structure of Report. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION. J. 1 Zimbabwe. Climate and Agm-ecological EnvironmenL 1.2 AgriculturaJ Production in Zimbabwe. 4 1.2. 1 Role of Irrigation. 4 1.3 Demand for Agriculural Produce. 6 1.4 Objectives of the Research. 7 1.5 Review of Similar DcvelpomenlS. 8 J .5. ) Infonnal Irrigation Develpomcm. 8 1.5.2 Irrigation Systems using Shallow Ground-water. 9 GIAPTER 2: METHODS FOR LOCATING ALLUVIAL AQUIFERS. 11 2.1 Definition of Alluvia] Aquifers. 1I 2.2 Review of Available Techniques. 11 2.2. 1 Macro-survey of the Occurcncc of Alluvial Aquifers. 12 2.2.2 Geometry and Physical Characteristics of Alluvium. 12 2.2.3 Techniques for Exploiling Alluvial Aquifers. 14 2.2.4 Quantification of the Water Resources. 14 2.3 Reasons for Methodology Adopted. 15 CHAPTER 3: RESOURCE INVESTIGATION. 17 3.1 Desk Study. 17 3.1.1 Literature Review. 17 3.1.2 Map Studies. 18 3. 1.3 Aerial Photography Analysis. 20 3.2 Field Invcstigations. 23 3.2.1 Geological and Geomorphological Invcstigations. 23 3.2.2 Sediment Sampling. 24 3.2.3 Water Sampling. 24 3.2.4 Physical Probing and Hand Augering. 24 3.2.5 Geophysical Investigalions. 24 iv CHAPTER 4: ALLUVIAL AQUIFER OCCURRENCE IN ZIMBABWE. 27 4.1 Factors Effecting the Distribution of Alluvium. 27 4.1.1 Mature River Alluvium. 28 4.1.2 Scarp Alluvium. 29 4.1.3 Kalahari Sand Alluvium. 30 4.2 The Distribution of Alluvium in Zimbabwe. 30 4.3 The Characteristics of Alluvial Sediments. 32 4.3.1 Sieve Analysis of Alluvial Sedimcnts. 35 4.3.2 The Alluvial Sedimentary Column. 41 4.4 The Geometry of Alluvial Dcplsits. 44 4.4.1 Geophysical Analysis of Alluvial Geometry. 49 CHAPTER 5: RESULTS: WATER RESOURCES ESTIMATES. 54 5.1 The Irrigation PmcnLial of Saturated Alluvial Aquifers. 54 5.2 The Specific Yield of the Aquifers. 56 5.2.1 Comparison of Sand Size Analyses. 56 5.2.2 Pump TcSI Data. 57 5.2.3 Application of Specific Yield Data. 59 5.3 Recharge. 60 5.4 Water Storage and Aquifer Losses. 66 5.4.1 Evaporation. 66 5.4.2 Transpiration and Seepage. 66 5.4.3 Groundwalcr Flow. 68 5.4.4 Aquifer Models. 68 5.5 Well Yield s. 70 5.6 Water Quality. 73 CHAPTER 6: WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND COSTS. 75 6.1 Alluvial Plains. 75 6.1.1 Dug WcBs. 75 6.1.2 Hand Drilled WeD s. 78 6.1.3 M otorized Drilling. 80 6.1.4 Collector Wells. 81 6.2 Alluvial Olanncls. 81 6.2.1 Channel Wells. 82 6.2.2 Channel Tube Wells. 83 6.2.3 Drive Points. 83 6.2.4 Groundwatcr Dams. 84 6.2.5 Infiltration Galleries. 85 6.3 WeLl Completion. 86 6.3.1 Screening. 86 6.3.2 Filter Packs. 87 6.3.3 Well Dcvclpoment. 87 v CHAPTER 7.POTENTIAL OF ALLUVIAL WATER FOR IRRIGATION. 89 7. 1 Agricultural Conditions. 89 7.1.1 Sites without Alluvial Plains. 89 7.1.2 Alluvial Plain Sites. 89 7.2 Pumping Technologies. 90 7.2.1 Sites without Alluvial Plains. 90 7.2.2 Alluvial Plain Sites. 94 7.2.3 Costs of Pumping. 96 7.3 Irrigation System Designs. 96 CHAPTER 8: STRATEGIES FOR RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. 98 8. 1 Development Costs. 98 8.2 Legislation. 98 8.3 Local Government Agencies and Non Governmental Organisations. 100 8.4 A Development Strategy. 101 8.5 Integrated Rural Development. 102 CHAPTER 9: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 103 9.1 Alluvial Water Resources. 103 9.2 Irrigation Devclpoment. 103 9.3 Futhcr Studies. 104 REFERENCES \07 APPENDICES VOLUME (The material in this volume is very site-specific. so only a few copies are available. Anyone interested should contact Mr Richard Owen, Department of Geology. University of Zimbabwe. PO Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Hararc. Zimbabwe.) Appendix A: An Atlas of Alluvial Aquifers in Zimbabwe 3 Appendix B: Sieve Analyses of Alluvial Samples 173 Appendix C: Geophysical Surveys of the Projcct Areas 185 Appendix 0: Alluvial Water Quality 191 Appendix E: Alluvial Soils 195 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Natural Regions and Agriculture. 3 Table 1.2 The Distribution of the Natural Regions. 4 Table 1.3 Irrigation in Zimbabwe. 6 Table 3.1 Irrigation Schemes in Zimbabwe using Alluvial Water. 18 Table 5.1 Irrigation Potential from Alluvial Aquifers in the Communal Areas of Zimbabwe. 55 Table 5.2 Alluvial Aquifer Data from Botswana. 57 Table 5.3 Test Pump Rcsuhs from Groolvlci, Zimbabwe. 58 Table 5.4 Average Alluvia] Aquifer Values in Bauchi State. Nigeria. 59 Table 5.5 Average Specific Yield Values used for Alluvial Aquifers in Zimbabwe. 60 Table 5.6 Water Resources in Channel Aquifers at Different Levels of Depiction. 70 Table 5.7 Yields of Wells in Lhe Ruodc and Scssami Project Areas. 72 Table 5.8 Summary of Water Quality Results. 74 Table 6.1 Comparison between Otanncl and Alluvial Plain Wells. 75 Table 6.2 Comparison between Dug and Drilled Wells. 81 Table 6.3 Yiclds from Olanncl BorehoJcs, MahaJapyc River, OOL'iwana. 83 Tablc 6.4 % Open Area for PVC Screens in Zimbabwc. 86 Tablc 7.1 Cost Analysis of Pumping Systcms. 96 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig 1.1 Monthly Rainfall Deficits for the Rainy Season in Zimbabwe. 2 Fig 1.2 Natura] Regions and Fanning Areas in Zimbabwe. 5 Fig 4.1 Example of a 250 000 Map Sheet. 31 Fig 4.2 Alluvial Provinces in Zimbabwe. 33 Fig 4.3 TypeS of Alluvial Deposit. 35 Fig 4.4 Estimated Values of Hydraulic Conductivity (K) Based on Grain Size Distribution. 37 Fig 4.5 Comparison of Botswana and Zimbabwe Grading Curves for Typical Alluvial Channel Sands. 38 Fig 4.6 Alluvial Channel Sand. Runde River. 39 Fig 4.7 Channel Sand from Borehole on AUuviai Plain. Runde River. 39 Fig 4.8 Fining Upward Alluvial Deposit. 40 Fig 4.9 Cross-bedded AUuvial Sand of Kalahari/Scarp Origin. 40 Fig 4.10(a, b) Stylized Borehole Logs of lhe Alluvial Sequences at the Project Areas. 42/43 Fig 4.1 1(a-d) Common Types of Alluvial Deposits found in Zimbabwe. 45/46 Fig 4.12 Typical Longitudinal and Cross-sections from a Botswana Sand River. 47 Fig 4.13 Seismic Cross-section through the Runde River Project Area. 50 Fig 4.14 Seismic Cross-section through the Sessami River Project Area.