Detailed project planning for cleaning an urban river system in Zimbabwe.

Question

I am a solar pump engineer with a very basic understanding (from a long forgotten university course) on how to test for river water quality, how should the samples be collected etc.  I have been contacted by a community of urban farmers who want to clean their local water source in Harare. I need your professional help in this regard.
Question one - Can we do river restoration or river cleaning at selected river section?  Question two - what should be the detailed process for the "Sectional River Cleaning" project ?
I'd be extremely grateful to river restoration professionals for giving me inputs on methodology, reference sites, hints, or tips on this topic.

James Grierson · Answer

Hi Brent I lived in Zimbabwe and you need to be aware of a few things. 1. The environment agency will require some talking to 2. Keep your solution simply 3. You will need to ensure that the upstream and downstream occupants are aware of what you are doing. The could cause a number of head aches for you. 4. Depending on the area you need to be aware of illegal mining. If you are going to be in one of those areas be weary. 5. You will need to appease the local cheifs if necessary. I know it sounds worrisome but all things in Zimbabwe can be accomplished. Lastly if you require local support let me know as I still have contacts there. Regards James

Eros Kaw · Answer

answer one. yes. you need to put in a weir. it can be as simple as sand bags wrapped in geo membranes. or you can use containment nets. answer 2. you need to know what you are treating for. what is the issue? is it an oil spill or a chemical spill? is it fish kill? is it cyano toxins and cyano bacteria? is it heavy metals? is it stinky and its a dead zone? once you have determined that, you can then easily come up with a solutions. one rule though is to not add more load to the river. not to add more chemicals or pollutants to the river. a river should have no smell, no sludge, and is very supportive to life. highly oxygenated is best. cost is a big issue and thus if the ecosystem is restored, it can be sustainable.

Lubabalo Luyaba · Answer

I fully agree with Eros Kaw. Further; I am not aware of the environmental regulations in place in Zimbabwe, but you need to find these and adhere to them (These should prohibit you from undertaking such work if you are not a professional in this field, as this work is reasonably "complex"). A good relatively "simple" approach is the use of an "oxygen sag model", this can be "built" using the Streeter-Phelps computations, these are fairly basic but you need reliable water quality data to build on. Good starting references are: "D Chapman (1996) Water Quality Assessments. Chapman & Hall" , "CN Sawyer (2003) Chemistry for Environmental Engineering. McGraw-Hill" and "RV Thoman (1987). Principles of Surface Water Quality Modeling and Control. Harper Collins Publisher Inc. I am based in South Africa and could offer you some assistance if you need it... (lluyaba@gmail.com)

Prem Baboo · Answer

Dear Brent Ryan There are some examples of river cleaning project- In India cleaning the Ganga and the Yamuna, in Seoul, the Han River’s millions of batteries are thrown in the rivers. Raw sewage added to water flows like canals and rivers , You need to find the source that is polluting it and stop further pollution so now the river will be come naturally and logically clean free from chemicals .Industry contaminates practically unchecked .farmers using agro chemicals (fertilizers ,herbicides & pesticides)then deforest and the rains washing the topsoil’s impregnated with contaminants into the rivers. Thousands of women that do the washing in rivers using harmful detergents. Farmers dump acidic coffee husk into the waters which kills millions of fish ,on the coasts oil spills that contaminate coastal waters, The sample collection process should be coordinated with the laboratory so that analysts know how many samples will be arriving, the approximate time of their arrival and the analyses that are to be carried out, and can thus have appropriate quantities of reagent chemicals prepared. Personnel who will collect water, biota or sediment samples must be fully trained in both sampling techniques and field test procedures. They should also be aware of the objectives of the monitoring programme since these will have some influence on the sampling procedures. For sampling âˆš Sample bottles, preservatives, labels and marker pens âˆš Sample storage/transit containers and ice packs âˆš Filtering apparatus (if required) âˆš Samplers/sampling equipment âˆš Rubber boots, waders, etc. âˆš Standard operating procedures for sampling âˆš Spares of all above items if possible and when appropriate For documentation âˆš Pens/wax crayons âˆš Sample labels âˆš Field notebook âˆš Report forms For on-site testing âˆš List of analyses to be performed on site âˆš Check stocks of consumables (including distilled water, pH buffers, standards and blanks); replenish and refresh as appropriate âˆš Check and calibrate meters (pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, thermometers) âˆš Other testing equipment according to local practice âˆš Standard operating procedures and equipment manuals âˆš Spares (e.g. batteries) Safety âˆš First-aid kit âˆš Waders, gloves, etc. âˆš Fire extinguisher (if appropriate) Transport âˆš Does assigned vehicle have sufficient capacity for personnel, supplies and equipment? âˆš Is vehicle road-worthy? Check battery, lubrication, coolant, windshield washer âˆš Is there sufficient fuel for the trip, either in the tank, in fuel cans, or available en route? âˆš Is the spare tyre inflated, is there a jack, wheel wrench and tool kit? Double-check âˆš When was equipment last calibrated? âˆš Itinerary against travel details on inventory âˆš Accessories for equipment and meters (including cables, chargers and spare batteries) and consumables. Only if samples can be taken consistently from the same locations, can changes in the concentration of water quality variables with time be interpreted with confidence. Sample containers Containers for the transportation of samples are best provided by the laboratory. This ensures that large enough samples are obtained for the planned analyses and that sample bottles have been properly prepared, including the addition of stabilizing preservatives when necessary. SECONDARY POLUTION changes in water temperature enhances harmful algae,(remember the red tide) and kills many fish who are critical to temperature ,when sea water enters lagoons here in Mexico many fish die ,due to sudden temperature changes .also warm water releases carbon gasses cold water absorbs them SOLUTIONS wetlands like swamps have always been Natures natural filters for natural water flows, aquatic plants clean the water ,the anchored plants as well as the floating ones .we should redesign wetland flora with in natural water systems to help contra contamination. Stop sewage systems that connect to natural water flows, forbid and police the dumping of rubbish on waters edges, the best way is through the educational systems, starting at kiddy schools and rising in intensity with progression. Cleaning project for revers According to pollutants The plant to be installed in river side and the parts of the river water to be cleaned by primary clarifier secondary clarifier, membranes biological treatment , bacteria treatment etc to be installed. Regards, Prem Baboo

Bhaskar Mallimadugula · Answer

We have a process to clean rivers by growing Diatom Algae. This would clean the entire river for a long distance, and sectional cleaning may not be possible.

Passwell Nyahora · Answer

Hi Brent I live in Zimbabwe and am a Water Engineer. Your proposal has to be approved by the Environmental Agency and also the Zimbabwe National Water Authority. Take not the system has to be simple and low cost especially if it is for a farming community. Will be open to assist you.

Erik Eggers · Answer

Hi Brent, I have learned that the proper definition of the problem is more than half of the solution. So please start with a short assessment as good as you can. Physically, chemically, biologically and -not to forget - institutionally, as I know from experience that things in Zim could be unexpectedly complex but also very simple depending on what people you are talking with. I have worked in RSA and the rest of southern Africa, also Zim, for years and happen to be in Harare next month. Meet?

Marine Nalbandyan · Answer

Hi, Brent
yes, of course, it is possible. But, firstly, you have to create strategic plan, based on the pollution type and tasks of your project.
if you could be provide the problems of the water/river quality in this section, I could be help you to get implementation plan for your project.

meagan cousins · Answer

test for turbidity pH and aquatic invertebrates (water bugs) I agree with other respondents you need to tell us what it is you are cleaning the river from? Catchment management is crucial, as is community involvement. Happy to further advise. Meagan

LOKESH PUNJ · Answer

Hi Brent Ryan, Cleaning a section of River is very ambitious and needs total information on UPSTREAM..What activity and who pollutes the river and how much of that can be stopped by what measures....
We need to know the objectives of the excercise clearly..If Farmers want to do interventions as are nacessary to make River water in a section good for the irrigation, then, problem is a bit simpler and solutions are also available on what can be done to make River water (given sample analysis for samples taken at various locations in different seasons) Also, it would be wise to find out which crops such water is intended to be used for irrigation.

Detailed project planning for cleaning an urban river system in Zimbabwe.

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