Thika Dam

The Ndakaini dam is a 63 m high, 458 m crest length earthfill dam on the Thika River near the small town of Ndakaini , 50 km north of Nairobi, Kenya. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 70 million cubic metres and serves for drinking water supply. Water is treated at the Ngethu treatment works. The dam has increased the reliability of water supply to Nairobi, which suffered water shortages during the dry season before construction of the dam was completed in 1994. The dam has been financed by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the Kenyan government.[1] Its construction had been delayed because of difficulties in land acquisition, leading to cost overruns.[3] During construction the dam design has been modified to allow it to withstand a 1:10,000-year flood and to improve dam safety.[4]

Ndakaini Dam
Thika Dam is located in Kenya
Thika Dam
Location of Ndakaini Dam in Kenya
CountryKenya
Coordinates0°49′13″S 36°51′01″E
StatusOperational
Construction began1989[1]
Opening date1994[2]
Construction cost20m Kenyan Shillings[1]
Owner(s)Athi Water Services Board
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment, earth-fill
Height63 m (207 ft)[2]
Length458 m (1,503 ft)[2]
Dam volume2,340,000 m3[2]
Spillway capacity390 m3/s[2]
Reservoir
Total capacity70,000,000 m3 (56,750 acre⋅ft)[2]
Inactive capacity1,000,000 m3 (811 acre⋅ft)[2]
Catchment area75 km2[1]
Surface area280 ha[2]

References

  1. Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company. "Thika Dam (Ndakaini) Brief". Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  2. Howard Humphreys. "Thika Dam Background". Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  3. Olima, W.H.A.; O.A. K'akumu (December 1999). "The problems of project implementation:: a post-mortem study of Thika Dam project, Kenya". Habitat International. 23 (4): 467–479. doi:10.1016/S0197-3975(99)00021-1.
  4. African Development Bank:Project Completion Report:Third Nairobi Water Supply Project, July 1998, p. 9
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