SMALL RESERVOIRS
TOOLKIT
A Senzanje
Bioresources Engineering
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Pietermaritzburg, 3201
RSA
SenzanjeA@ukzn.ac.za

CAUTION – TOOLS & TOOLKITS!
 “If the only tool you have is a hammer, then you
see all your problems as nails...” Abraham Maslow
 “ A solution in search of a problem…”

Outline of Presentation
 Background to the SR Toolkit
 SR Toolkit main applications
 Intervention Planning
 Application (1 case) + Linkage with Phase II
 Water Quantification & Hydrology
 Health & Ecosystems
 Exercise (1 case to try out)
 Management issues
 Feedback/Discussion

SR TOOLKIT INTRODUCTION …1
 DEVELOPMENT
 From CPWF Phase I Project PN46 – Small Reservoirs Project
 PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS
 IWMI ZEF
 IRD WRI
 UZ (UKZN) TU-Delft
 SEI Embrapa
 DGIRH UFV
 FUNDING
 CPWF GTZ
 PUT TOGETHER
 M Andreini, T Schuetz & L Harrington

SR TOOLKIT INTRODUCTION …2
 SMALL RESERVOIRS & RURAL LIVELIHOODS
 SR central to water provision for rural communities
 Key feature of rural water supply infrastructure
 TYPICAL USEAGE
 Truly MUS
 Domestic, livestock watering, small-scale irrigation,
gardening, small-scale fishing, brick making, wildlife, silt
traps for larger dams, etc

SR TOOLKIT INTRODUCTION …3
 SMALL RESERVOIRS ISSUES
 Planning & development (maybe) not so properly done
(cf large dams)
 Different players involved, different developmental
trajectories
 Not considered as systems – thought of in local context
 Impact on hydrology not properly researched or
documented – based on numbers & density

SR TOOLKIT INTRODUCTION …4
 SMALL RESERVOIRS QUESTIONS
 Ownership issues?
 Roles and responsibilities for O&M and R&M?
 Some falling into disrepair & functioning sub-optimally?
 Possible conflicts over water use?
 Worthiness not quantified?
 MUS water productivity unknown?
 Ecosystems goods and services?
 MORE QUESTIONS
 Socio-institutional – technical – economic – environmental -
etc

SR TOOLKIT INTRODUCTION …5
 MAIN RESEARCH IDEA BEHIND TOOLKIT – Twin
objectives
 Basin level objective
 Promote & support SR planning, development and
development  satisfy water related ecosystems services
 Local level objective
 Support use of SR that are properly located, well designed,
well maintained and operated  rural livelihoods
improvement

SR TOOLKIT INTRODUCTION …6
 SOURCE MATERIALS FOR SR TOOLKIT
 Research from the 3 basins
 Literature material
 Journal articles
 PG theses/dissertations
 Grey literature
 etc
 Other research activities – directly & indirectly linked to
SRP46

SR TOOLKIT …1
 SR TOOLKIT MAIN PURPOSE
 Make information more ACCESSIBLE in a USEABLE manner to
practitioner
 SR Toolkit to complement “other” tools
 TARGET USERS
 All involved in and with SRs
 NGOs
 Government agencies
 Researchers – NARES, universities, etc
 Donor agencies
 Multilateral agencies

SR TOOLKIT …2
 WHAT IS the SR TOOLKIT?
 Frameworks, tools, flowcharts, processes and
procedures, literature sources,
suggestions/recommendations, …
 How to…

SR TOOLKIT …3
 SR TOOLKIT FORMAT – STANDARD THROUGHOUT
 [A] TITLE of TOOL
 (Authors)
 [B] TARGET USERS of TOOL
 [C] SCOPE (Questions or challenges answered by the tool)
 [D] DESCRIPTION & APPLICATION of TOOL
 [E] LESSONS LEARNT & RECOMMENDATIONS
 [G] LIMITATIONS of the TOOL

SR TOOLKIT …4
 SR TOOLKIT – 33+ TOOLS
 I – INTERVENTION PLANNING [4]
 I01 – I04
 II – STORAGE & HYDROLOGY [5] +[8]
 IIa01 – IIa05
 IIb01 – IIb08
 III – ECOSYSTEMS & HEALTH [9] + (2)
 III01 – III09
 IV – INSTITUTIONS & ECONOMICS [7]
 IVa01 – IVa04
 IVb01 – IVb03

SR TOOLKIT USEAGE …2012

SR TOOLKIT USEAGE …2014
Approx. 13000 visits/months

 Website
SR Toolkit Access
 www.smallreservoirs.org
 Requirements
 Stable internet connection
 What is there?
 Project proposal
 Institutions involved
 Publications
 Photos
 Toolkit
 Documentation describing each tool and how to apply it (pdf)
 People to contact for follow-up
 References for that toolkit
 Participants areas

SR Toolkit Applications - PLANNING
 SR TOOL I01 – INTERVENTION PLANNING
 Use of PIPA in research or intervention planning  bring
about DESIRED OUTPUT

 [A] TITLE
SR TOOL I01 – PIPA …1
 Participatory Impact Pathways Analysis
 [B] SCOPE
 Tool to describe processes (what, how, etc, …, linkages) to follow
to enhance the uptake of research findings by target group 
desired OUTPUTS, OUTCOMES & IMPACTS  see example!
 [C] TARGET GROUP of the TOOL
 Project & program managers and coordinators
 Planners
 Implementers
 Researchers
 Stakeholders and beneficiaries

SR TOOL I01 – PIPA …2
 [D] TOOL DESCRIPTION & APPLICATION
 Description of project impact pathways (IPs) from PROBLEM TREE &
NETWORK MAPS perspective
 Problem tree  cause – effect Day 1
 Network maps  network perspectives (now & in the future) Day 2
 Develop Outcome Logic Models (OLMs) and M&E Day3
 [E] LESSONS LEARNT
 Application of tool for M&E of the SR project meant project became more
impact oriented
 PIPA components (problem tree, outputs, vision, network maps) helped in
planning & reviewing progress s towards research objectives
 [F] LIMITATION of the TOOL
 Impact pathway methodology still being learnt and yet to be fully understood
and applied

SR TOOL I01 APPLIED to L2 - LBDC
 RESEARCH PROBLEM
 Seek for causes of failure and rehabilitation requirements for small
scale water infrastructure (SWI).
 Identifying, adapting, implementing, demonstrating, promoting
and provide training of various RWH structures on the production
areas shall be assessed.
 Identify the extent of institutional, policy and governance matters
towards the causes of dysfunctionality of SWIs and lack of
adoption of RWH technologies in the rural communities of the four
Limpopo basin countries.

SR TOOL I01 APPLIED to L2 - LBDC
 KEY 1ST OUTPUT OF L2 RESEARCH
 Definition and categorisation of small scale water infrastructure
 See hand-out
 WHY?
 To make sure that we are all talking the same language!
 DOWNSTREAM USE (IMPACTS)?
 Interest of definition from many quarters, e.g., LIMCOM, etc

L2 Opportunities, outputs, actors and location
Opportunity Role of
research
Output Next users End users Politically
important
actors
Location
Optimization/r
evitalisat
ion of existing
dysfunctional
Infrastructure
(WP1)
Analysis of
reasons for
failure and
assessment
of
alternative
options
Inventory
of
dysfunctio
nal
infrastruct
ure and
reasons
for
dysfuntion
ality
Government,
NGO,
Development
agencies,
private
organizations
Farmers, rural
communities,
Provincial &
local
government,
traditional
leaders,
SA
Limpopo,
ZIM Mat
south
Small scale
infrastructure
development
for
multiple uses
(WP3)
Identificatio
n of suitable
technologies
and range of
options for
crops,
livestock and
domestic
use
Appropriat
e
technology
guidelines
and
production
options.
Piloted
technologi
es
Extension
workers,
Government
(SRM, IAE),
NGO,
Farmers, rural
communities
Provincial &
local
government,
traditional
leaders,
Donors
SA, ZIM,
BOT, MOZ

Opportunities, outputs, actors and location
Opportunity Role of
research
Output Next users End users Politically
important
actors
Location
Small
reservoirs
and
insitu water
harvesting
(WP4)
Develop
appropriate
and usable
systems and
options
Appropriate
technology
and use
guidelines
Government
, NGO,
Donors,
Private
sector,
Universities
Farmers, rural
communities
Provincial &
local
government,
traditional
leaders
SA, ZIM, BOT,
MOZ
Better use of
grey
water and
harvested
water for
multiple use
(WP4)
Develop
appropriate
technology
for gray
water use,
quality
management
and
ecosystem
integrity
Guidelines
for grey
water use
Government
,
Municipaliti
es, NGO,
Donors,
Private
sector,
Universities
Peri-urban and
urban farmers,
aquaculturalist,
municipalities,
Municipality BOT, SA, ZIM,
MOZ
Irrigation
scheme
(ALL)

Change in Knowledge, Attitude and/or
Skills Change in Practice / Behaviour Impacts
Project outputs
Farmers and rural communities
Empowerment and ability to use
technical briefs, knowledge
pamphlets, demonstrations and other
other awareness raising activities for
rehabilitation, design and
implementation
Sustainably implement,
rehabilitate and manage improved
small-scale SWIs and appropiate
RWH technologies
Improved rainwater
productivity
L2 OUTCOME LOGIC MODEL
OUTCOMES
Provincial and Municipal governments, Traditional leaders and NGOs
Do alternative design of SWIs that
will foster MUS and appropriate
RWH technologies and new
investments in the Limpopo basin
More understanding of and skills to
use various design and operations
options of SWIs
Positive mindset on the value of
multiplier effects of MUS
Empowered /
capacitated
researchers, students,
farners
Policy makers and investors
Pamphlets for investment options.
More knowledge of various design
options of SWI for MUS
Policies incorporated into
development plans &
implementation support
Clear inventory in GIS
database of
dysfunctional SWI,
distribution and
reasons for
dysfunctionality/failure
and rehabilitation
guidelines
Design manuals for
SWI and improved
rainwater management
technologies
Economical ly
sustainable MUS SWI
design and
management
Improved yields and
income for household
food security /
l ivel ihoods

L2 RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
 See Technical Brief Hand-out:
 “LBDC (L2) Research Project’s Impact on Changes in Stakeholders’
KAP”.

SR Toolkit Applications – PLANNING
 SR TOOL I02 – STAKEHOLDER & CONFLICT ANALYSIS
 Tool helps to analyse stakeholders’ aims, goals &
interests in a developmental project

SR Toolkit Applications – PLANNING
 SR TOOL I03 – CREATING COMMON GROUND FOR
DIALOGUE
 Drawing tool to foster better communications and bring
about improved mutual understanding of issues by
stakeholders

SR Toolkit Applications – PLANNING
 SR TOOL I04 – OUTCOMES MAPPING – MONITORING
CHANGE & OUTCOME
 Tool to help planners monitor the implementation,
adoption and changes in stakeholders’ attitudes, and
behaviour, i.e., tracking behavioural changes in
development programmes…

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIa01 – RESERVOIR INVENTORY MAPPING
 Tool on use of satellite imagery to inventorise SR in a
basin or catchment – number, size and distribution.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIa02 – ATLAS OF LAKES AND RESERVOIRS
IN BURKINA FASO
 Tool for getting an inventory of reservoirs in an area
using secondary data (by generating metadata from
official sources/reports).

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIa03 – SMALL RESERVOIR CAPACITY
ESTIMATION
 Tool for using remotely sensed surface areas (A) to
estimate SR water volumes (V) through developed V =
f(A) relationships.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIa04 – NEAR-REAL-TIME MONITORING OF
SR WITH REMOTE SENSING
 Tool on use of radar satellite imagery (not affected by
clouds) to monitor SR volumes fortnightly or monthly in
a basin or catchment in near-real-time. Important during
droughts (or even floods).

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIa05 – ASSESSING HYDROLOGICAL
IMPACTS OF SR ENSEMBLES
 Tool (analytical framework) for use in assessing the
hydrological impacts of SR groups in an area. Impacts
include evaporative losses, spillage, irrigation water use,
and drainage water.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb01 – CALIBRATION OF RUNOFF MODELS
WITH REMOTELY SENSED SRs
 Tool for a method to develop simple hydrological
models for dammed upland watersheds based on
monitoring reservoir surface areas with radar remote
sensing.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb02 – RAINFALL-DISCHARGE
RELATIONSHIPS FOR MOONSONAL CLIMATES
 Tool to develop simple water balance models to predict
river discharges in arid climates of Africa where you get
a distinct dry season and drying of soil layers.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb03 – ASSESSING DEEP SEEPAGE IN SRs
 Tool provides a method for assessing deep seepage
(drainage) under SRs.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb04 – ESTIMATING EVAPORATION LOSSES
FROM SRs
 Tool for estimating open surface evaporation losses
from SRs (evaporation losses are considered
unproductive water loss).

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb05 –WATER QUANTITY ASSESSMENT OF
SILTED-UP SRs
 Tool to estimate amount of water stored in silted-up SRs
in the Limpopo basin.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb06 – RADIONUCLIDE TRACER METHOD
TO ESTIMATE EROSION & SEDIMENTATION AT
HILLSLOPE AND SRs SCALE
 Tool for using measurements of 137Cs concentration in
soil samples collected from the watershed to estimate
soil erosion losses from fields and that deposited in SRs.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb07 – MODELLING SOIL EROSION AT SR
SCALE USING WaTEM/SEDEM
 tool uses soil erosion models to simulate soil erosion
and sedimentation rates at the catchment scale and to
produce soil erosion hazard maps.

SR Toolkit Applications – STORAGE &
HYDROLOGY
 SR TOOL IIb08 – IDENTIFYING SEDIMENTATION
BULGES & SRs SILTATION RATES USING
BATHYMETRIC MEASUREMENTS & CORING OF LAKE
SEDIMENTS
 Tool presents approaches/methods using bathymetric
surveys and lake sediment retrievals to monitor changes
in reservoir morphology, to measure the thickness of
accumulated soil particles, and to calculate siltation
rates.

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEM & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III01 – PARTICIPATORY HEALTH IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (PHIA)
 Tool provides step-wise guidelines intended to reduce
the health risks and increase the health benefits from
SRs. Focus is on major water-related diseases
associated with SRs in Africa, plus:
 Added value of community participation in health
assessment
 Opportunities to mitigate health risks & improve health
through better planning & operation of SRs

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTYEM & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III02 – HEALTH QUESTIONAIRRE FOR
SCHOOL SURVEYS FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
 Tool describes the use of school surveys, an important
tool that supports both participatory and biomedical
research

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEM & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III03 – EPIDEMIOLGICAL SURVEYS FOR
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
 Tool uses standard biomedical methodologies to
determine infection rates for key water-related (or
“reservoir-related”) diseases including schistosomiasis
and other intestinal parasites, and malaria

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEM & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III04 – VECTOR STUDIES TOOL
 Tool describes the use of selected methods to help
stakeholders understand the ecological preferences of
vector organisms in relation to small reservoirs.

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEM & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III05 –WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT TOOL
 Tool describes selected methods for assessing the
suitability of reservoir water quality. It covers:
 Biological (parasites, cysts, coliforms, etc)
 Chemical (EC, chemical)

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEM & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III06 – BLUE GREEN ALGAE ASSESSMENT
TOOL IN SRs
 Tool aims to contribute to a better understanding of
blue green algae (cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins,
photosynthetic prokaryotes) in SRs in less developed
countries in tropical basins

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEMS & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III07 – AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION
AND ECOLOGICAL THREATS TO SRs
 Tool demonstrates how to begin the process of
analysing the impact of mans activities on the reservoirs.

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEMS & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III08 –WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN
SRs USING PLANKTON ABUNDANCE & DIVERSITY
 Tool uses plankton (zooplankton and phytoplankton)
abundance and diversity to measure water quality.
Changes in abundance and diversity of these organisms
represent direct and profound responses to pollution
entering reservoirs.

SR Toolkit Applications –
ECOSYSTEMS & HEALTH
 SR TOOL III09 – PARTICIPATORY DEFINITION OF
INDICATORS FOR HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT
 Tool uses mutually agreed indicators to facilitate
communication among key stakeholders to assist in
better planning & management of SRs. Indicators from
various sources can be tailored to suit local conditions.
Example indicators:
 Water resources
 Water use
 Water quality
 Status of natural resources
 Agricultural production

SR TOOL III09 TRIAL EXERCISE…1
 [A] TITLE
 Impacts of reservoirs: Participatory definition of indicators for
health & environment
 [B] SCOPE
 Need to develop mutually agreed indicators for health & the
environment using local expertise, experiences, knowledge to
facilitate communication among concerned key stakeholders
 [C] TARGET GROUP
 Health professionals, researchers, planners, designers, builders,
managers, and users of SRs
 Tool requires disciplinary expertise

SR TOOL III09 TRIAL EXERCISE…2
 [D] TOOL DESCRIPTION & APPLICATION
 Understand definition of ‘impact’ = change due to SRs
 Identify levels of IMPACT based on thematic groups & effects
 Water  resource, mobilisation, management issue
 Health  disease, risk, hygiene
 Environment  soil, fauna, flora, water properties
 Agric production system  crops, irrigation, livestock, fisheries, etc
 Socio-economics  income, immigration, gender, infrastructure, labour,
etc
 Select robust indicators of impact based on how well they meet relevant
criteria
 Feasibility Reliability Reproducibility
 Frequency Quality Coverage
 Appropriateness Multi-disciplinarity
 (See Table 2)

SR TOOL III09 TRIAL EXERCISE…3
 [D] TOOL DESCRIPTION & APPLICATION …(cont.)
 Develop impact indicators
 These should indicate state of the system before &/or after the impacts
of any change are realised
 Can be qualitative or quantitative – represent reality
 Finally select key indicators
Theme Impact Key impact indicator
Water Water resources Volume imponded
Water quality Microbial analysis
Water use Water consumed

SR TOOL III09 TRIAL EXERCISE…4
 [D] TOOL DESCRIPTION & APPLICATION …(cont.)
 Expert indicators
 [E] LESSONS LEARNT
 Indicators derived are site-specific, practical and more relevant
 [F] LIMITATIONS of the TOOL
 Indicator list is never complete
 With time circumstances change, so …

SR TOOL III09 TRIAL EXERCISE…5
 EXERCISE
 Identify key applicable indicators for Case Study II given to you
 NOTE
 Developed indicators need not be total or complete but for you
to get a feel of going through the full use of the tool.

SR Toolkit Applications –
INSTITUTIONS & ECONOMICS
 SR TOOL IVa01 – WEAP MODEL INCLUDING
PARAMETER ESTIMATION (PEST)
 Modelling tool (WEAP) for water planning and allocation
applicable at multiple scales, from community to
catchment to basin. WEAP Model:
 Uses scenarios to evaluate different water allocation
possibilities
 Can be linked to groundwater model (MODFLOW)
 Can be linked to water quality model (QUAL2K)
 Can be linked to socio-economic models for rural
livelihoods assessments based on water allocation

SR Toolkit Applications –
INSTITUTIONS & ECONOMICS
 SR TOOL IVa02 – FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING MODEL
 Tool is to convert the outputs of a water planning model
(like WEAP) into variables useful for decision-making by
planners and farmers. The tool is designed for the
following purposes:
 to estimate the initial and recurring farm-level costs of
water-related infrastructure,
 including capital investment and amortization,
 and operational expenses
 and to estimate the price and income consequences for
farmers of increased production (higher yields, increased
planted area) of particular crops

SR Toolkit Applications –
INSTITUTIONS & ECONOMICS
 SR TOOL IVa03 –WATER-LIMITED YIELD MODEL
 Tool estimating the effect on yields of climate and
weather (deviations from average rainfall patterns such
as drought; climate change) and to estimate the effect
on yields and water consumption of improved irrigation
practices.
 It models crop yields under water-limited conditions and
irrigation efficiency for different irrigation techniques.

SR Toolkit Applications –
INSTITUTIONS & ECONOMICS
 SR TOOL IVa04 – SRs WATER ALLOCATION
STRATEGIES BASED ON WATER PRODUCTIVITY
 Tool uses estimates of water productivity and social
values to inform decisions on the allocation of scarce
water resources.
 The tool shows how estimates of water productivity can
help in the evaluation of the socio-economic
contributions of small multiple-use reservoirs

SR Toolkit Applications –
INSTITUTIONS & GOVERNANCE
 SR TOOL IVb01 – INSTITUTIONS & GOVERNANCE OF
SRs WATER RESOURCES
 Tool describes the methods used to answer a specific
question: “Which indigenous practices, legal frameworks
and institutions are most conducive to equitable, win-win,
and pro-poor investments within sub-Saharan
African transboundary basins”?
 It describes case studies on transboundary issues and
local water governance institutions from the Volta &
Limpopo Basins

SR Toolkit Applications –
INSTITUTIONS & GOVERNANCE
 SR TOOL IVb02 – INFLUENCE NETWORK MAPPING
(NET MAP)
 Net-Map is an interview-based mapping tool that helps
stakeholders understand, visualize, discuss, monitor,
evaluate and improve situations in which many different
actors influence outcomes.
 Toolkit includes a theoretical framework and two case
studies one on organizational learning in multi-stakeholder
water governance, and the other one on
Research on Fisheries Management in Small
Multipurpose Reservoirs

SR Toolkit Applications –
INSTITUTIONS & GOVERNANCE
 SR TOOL IVb03 – SOCIAL CAPITAL
 Tool describes a method to assess and analyse social
networks within a community to determine how
cooperation in that community influences “who
participates, and how” in the development of a
collective good such as a small reservoir

 RESULT
CONCLUSIONS
 Genuine effort at providing useable tools
 SR Toolkit being used (?) or being visited
 FUTURE
 Can be improved (by who & when?)
 Will continue to be a good reference point

 KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS & INFOGRAPHICS
 Info briefs
 Technical briefs
 Policy briefs
 Reports & guidelines
 TARGET AUDIENCE
 All levels
PHASE II