Articles | Volume 24, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1891-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-24-1891-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Apr 2020
Research article |
| 16 Apr 2020
| 16 Apr 2020
Investigating the environmental response to water harvesting structures: a field study in Tanzania
Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
IN 47906, USA
Venkatesh M. Merwade
Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
IN 47906, USA
Viewed
Total article views: 4,353 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 26 Apr 2019)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,210 | 1,050 | 93 | 4,353 | 118 | 134 |
- HTML: 3,210
- PDF: 1,050
- XML: 93
- Total: 4,353
- BibTeX: 118
- EndNote: 134
Total article views: 3,172 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 16 Apr 2020)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,424 | 661 | 87 | 3,172 | 102 | 121 |
- HTML: 2,424
- PDF: 661
- XML: 87
- Total: 3,172
- BibTeX: 102
- EndNote: 121
Total article views: 1,181 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 26 Apr 2019)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 786 | 389 | 6 | 1,181 | 16 | 13 |
- HTML: 786
- PDF: 389
- XML: 6
- Total: 1,181
- BibTeX: 16
- EndNote: 13
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 4,353 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,896 with geography defined
and 457 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,172 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,960 with geography defined
and 212 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,181 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 936 with geography defined
and 245 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Sand Dams as a Potential Solution to Rural Water Security in Drylands: Existing Research and Future Opportunities H. Ritchie et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.651954
- Augmenting freshwater availability in mountain headwater streams: Assessing the sustainability under baseline and future climate change scenarios B. Yifru et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2021.08.002
- Can desert phreatophytic trees enhance recharge through sediment-clogged reservoirs of recharge dams in Arabia? N. Al-Kharousi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2025.04.001
- In-Channel Managed Aquifer Recharge: A Review of Current Development Worldwide and Future Potential in Europe K. Standen et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12113099
- Sand dams for sustainable water management: Challenges and future opportunities G. Castelli et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156126
- Performance evaluation of sand dams as a rural rainwater conservation and domestic water supply technology in East-African drylands, a case-study from South-Eastern Kenya M. Ndekezi et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2022.2163572
- Ephemeral reservoirs of low-head wadi dams drained by seepage, evaporation and pumping: the Pavlovsky/Polubarinova-Kochina/Abel analytical legacy redux A. Kacimov https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2025.105201
- Assessing the Impact of Land Cover, Soil, and Climate on the Storage Potential of Dryland Sand Dams J. Eisma et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.671455
- Utilizing Crushed Volcanic Scoria as a Subsurface Medium for Water Storage in Arid Regions: A Comparative Laboratory Study H. Abas https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.15501
- Insights from electrical resistivity tomography on the hydrogeological interaction between sand dams and the weathered basement aquifer H. Ritchie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2024.105542
- A Novel Approach to Managing Riverine Sediment Deposition in Sand Dam Reservoirs S. Gulduren et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70287
- Investment trends and evaluation gaps in rainwater harvesting in Sub-Saharan African drylands K. Singh et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110265
- Water Storage in Dry Riverbeds of Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Overview, Challenges, and Prospects of Sand Dam Technology B. Yifru et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115905
- Sand Dams for Sustainable Water Management: Challenges and Future Opportunities G. Castelli et al. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3998987
- A data-driven approach to assessing the impact of water harvesting structures on regional water storage in East Africa J. Eisma & V. Merwade https://doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2021.115
- Integrated operation of sand dam and groundwater dam to increase water supply capacity in mountainous areas of Chuncheon, South Korea I. Chung et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2024.101959
- Hydraulic conductivity of sand influenced by temperature and porosity in centrifugal tests J. He et al. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A2400216
- Conjunctive Operation of Sand Dam and Groundwater Well for Reliable Water Supply during Drought Conditions B. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14142249
- Enhancing Groundwater Recharge Through Nature-Based Solutions: Benefits and Barriers M. Kebede et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11110195
19 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Sand Dams as a Potential Solution to Rural Water Security in Drylands: Existing Research and Future Opportunities H. Ritchie et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.651954
- Augmenting freshwater availability in mountain headwater streams: Assessing the sustainability under baseline and future climate change scenarios B. Yifru et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2021.08.002
- Can desert phreatophytic trees enhance recharge through sediment-clogged reservoirs of recharge dams in Arabia? N. Al-Kharousi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2025.04.001
- In-Channel Managed Aquifer Recharge: A Review of Current Development Worldwide and Future Potential in Europe K. Standen et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12113099
- Sand dams for sustainable water management: Challenges and future opportunities G. Castelli et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156126
- Performance evaluation of sand dams as a rural rainwater conservation and domestic water supply technology in East-African drylands, a case-study from South-Eastern Kenya M. Ndekezi et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2022.2163572
- Ephemeral reservoirs of low-head wadi dams drained by seepage, evaporation and pumping: the Pavlovsky/Polubarinova-Kochina/Abel analytical legacy redux A. Kacimov https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2025.105201
- Assessing the Impact of Land Cover, Soil, and Climate on the Storage Potential of Dryland Sand Dams J. Eisma et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.671455
- Utilizing Crushed Volcanic Scoria as a Subsurface Medium for Water Storage in Arid Regions: A Comparative Laboratory Study H. Abas https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.15501
- Insights from electrical resistivity tomography on the hydrogeological interaction between sand dams and the weathered basement aquifer H. Ritchie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2024.105542
- A Novel Approach to Managing Riverine Sediment Deposition in Sand Dam Reservoirs S. Gulduren et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70287
- Investment trends and evaluation gaps in rainwater harvesting in Sub-Saharan African drylands K. Singh et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110265
- Water Storage in Dry Riverbeds of Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Overview, Challenges, and Prospects of Sand Dam Technology B. Yifru et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13115905
- Sand Dams for Sustainable Water Management: Challenges and Future Opportunities G. Castelli et al. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3998987
- A data-driven approach to assessing the impact of water harvesting structures on regional water storage in East Africa J. Eisma & V. Merwade https://doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2021.115
- Integrated operation of sand dam and groundwater dam to increase water supply capacity in mountainous areas of Chuncheon, South Korea I. Chung et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2024.101959
- Hydraulic conductivity of sand influenced by temperature and porosity in centrifugal tests J. He et al. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A2400216
- Conjunctive Operation of Sand Dam and Groundwater Well for Reliable Water Supply during Drought Conditions B. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14142249
- Enhancing Groundwater Recharge Through Nature-Based Solutions: Benefits and Barriers M. Kebede et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11110195
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 30 May 2026
Short summary
Sand dams capture and store water for use during the dry season in rural communities. A year long field study of three sand dams in Tanzania showed that sand dams are not a suitable habitat for aquatic insects. They capture plenty of water, but most is evaporated during the first few months of the dry season. Sand dams positively impact vegetation and minimally impact erosion. Community water security can be increased by sand dams, but site characteristics and construction are important factors.
Sand dams capture and store water for use during the dry season in rural communities. A year...
