Posted on December 18, 2024
Kenya’s dams perform vital functions, from supplying irrigation water and generating hydropower to controlling floods. However, these aging dams, some of which were constructed over 60 years ago during the colonial era, now grapple with significant challenges such as serious siltation, invasive aquatic vegetation, and pollution. These issues considerably compromise their performance and safety. Answering these challenges, Bainridge is employing Watermaster’s cutting-edge technology, already in use in over 80 countries worldwide. Their goal is to revolutionize water management in Kenya and breathe new life into its water bodies.
WATERMASTER TECHNOLOGY
Bainridge came to know about the Watermaster through conversations with the company’s Kenyan representatives, which led to an enlightening tour at their production plant in Finland. Recognizing the versatility, mobility, and impressive performance of the Watermaster for all shallow water works in 0-6 meter depths, Bainridge found it to be a perfect fit for their operations and seized the opportunity to invest in the technology to address urgent issues plaguing Kenya’s dams and waterways.
According to Mr. Paul K. Karuga, the Managing Director at Bainridge, Watermaster’s ease of transportation, along with its amphibious and self-propelling capabilities, enable Bainridge to carry out projects even in the remotest and most difficult locations. “The Watermaster can independently enter and move in the water, making us capable of handling tasks in otherwise inaccessible areas” Mr. Karuga explained. Moreover, the Watermaster’s impressive capacity to suction dredge up to 900 cubic meters per hour, excavate up to 100 cubic meters per hour, and its ability to effectively clear large areas of invasive aquatic plants by raking, as well as drive piles from the water-side using a vibratory pile driver, equip Bainridge to tackle a diverse range of shallow water projects in the future.
Sondu miriu dam restoration project:
Raking
Removal of invasive hippo grass with the rake
Excavating
Removal of excessive siltation with the 600l backhoe bucket
Suction dredging
Removal of excessive siltation with the cutter pump
The multipurpose Watermaster increases the dam’s reservoir water holding capacity by effectively raking out invasive hippo grass and by removing excessive siltation via excavating and suction dredging.
RESTORING THE SONDU MIRIU DAM
The Sondu Miriu dam, managed by KenGen – the leading electric power generating company in East Africa – faced numerous challenges. From invasive hippo grass to excessive siltation, these difficulties reduced the dam’s efficiency and limited access for local fishermen. In order to overcome the challenges, KenGen turned to Bainridge for their expertise and innovative Watermaster technology.
Bainridge devised a comprehensive strategy to address the issues plaguing the dam. Initially, the Watermaster was tasked with removing over 150,000 square meters of invasive hippo grass, effectively opening and widening the basin. The subsequent tasks will involve excavating and suction dredging hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of sludge to increase the reservoir’s holding capacity, which will ensure cleaner water sources, improved energy generation, and enhanced flood prevention.
In an effort to further enhance local access to the dam, plans have been laid out to construct foot bridges that would enable villagers to safely cross the river upstream from the dam. The foundational piles for these bridges can be driven using Watermaster’s vibratory pile driver attachment. This robust strategy not only ensures the long-term sustainability of the dam but also serves the needs of the local community.
SUPPORT FROM AQUAMEC FINLAND
Bainridge has been highly appreciative of the support they have received from Aquamec Finland, the manufacturer of the Watermaster technology. “Aquamec Finland has provided outstanding support in terms of training, spare parts, and after sales support. Their dedication to ensuring the success of our projects has been truly commendable, and we couldn’t have achieved our goals without their expert guidance,” said Mr. Karuga.
EXPANDING THE SCOPE
Following success at the Sondu Miriu dam, Bainridge intends to apply the Watermaster dredger to diverse tasks across the region. This includes desilting dams for water security, and dredging and removing vegetation from various inland water bodies and coastal sites around Kenya.
CONCLUSION
Bainridge’s adoption of Watermaster technology is a significant step towards resolving Kenya’s water challenges. Mr. Karuga captures the mission: ‘Water is life. By revitalizing our water bodies, we directly improve people’s lives. This isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s about ensuring our communities have reliable access to clean water and energy, sustaining healthy ecosystems and improving the flood-resilience of our cities.’ With this commitment, Bainridge and Watermaster are making a transformative impact on water management in Kenya and beyond.
