Water is precious to everything we do that includes agriculture, industry, transport, etc., for this valuable resource determines development and fashions social wellbeing. But, of late with water resources getting scare professionals are fully baffled as how to find a holistic and integrated solutions for sustainable management of water resources.
In Ethiopian, water resources system is governed by 12 major river basins that generate about 124 billion cubic meters of water annually. The yearly groundwater reserve in aquifers is estimated to be over 2.6 billion cubic meters. And there are several fresh and saline lakes which have storage capacity of 96 billion cubic meters. Due to such immense physical water resources potential, Ethiopia is considered as the ‘water tower of Eastern Africa’.
Despite these resources, Ethiopia is facing crisis due to impacts of drought and flood as we are unable to manage this resources appropriately. To provide a long-term solution for these issues, Arba Minch Water Technology Institute came into being in 1986, which later on elevated to Arba Minch University in 2004.
WRRC has got exclusivity in 2017, with an aim to become center of excellence through research, consultancy and community services. So far several research and consultancy works have been conducted and few outputs communicated through internationally reputed journals, symposia and workshops.
WRRC annually organizes global meets on sustainable water resources development and management where stallholders, researchers, scientists, practitioners, decision-makers and community from different parts of the world gather to discuss issues.
Soon, it will be launching its first ever biannual research journal - Ethiopian Journal of Water Science and Technology that will publish, biannually, original research papers that are of regional and international significance.
VISION
It aims to become center of excellence in research, sustainable water resources management and utilization.
MISSION
WRRC is committed to conduct demand-driven & problem-solving research, attract consultancy services on thematic areas, incubate and transfer proven technologies to the community.
GOAL
To disseminate research outputs through communication platforms, create favorable research environment and promote cutting-edge research with scientific ethics.
OBJECTIVE
To create knowledge, evolve solutions; build capacities by coordinating and partnering
Staff Profile
Table-A: Staff on Duty
|
S.No |
Name |
Academic Rank |
Position |
Year of Joining |
|
1 |
Dr. Samuel Dagalo |
PhD |
Director of WRRC |
August 2003 |
|
2 |
Ayalkibet Mekonnen |
MSc |
Associate Researcher |
March 2014 |
|
3 |
Mekuanint Muluneh |
MSc |
Associate Researcher |
May 2015 |
|
4 |
Behailu Hussien |
MSc |
Associate Researcher |
July 2015 |
|
5 |
Kalkidan Mekonnen |
BSc |
Assistant Researcher |
August 2016 |
|
6 |
Emebet Mitiku |
10+3 |
Office Administrator |
June 2013 |
|
7 |
Dawit Shandalo |
High School |
Data Collector |
June 2013 |
|
8 |
Goliyad Tamire |
High School |
Data Collector |
June 2013 |
Table-B: Staff on study leave
|
S.No |
Full Name |
Academic Rank |
Position |
University attended for second degree |
|
1 |
Tekabe Tekle |
M.Sc. |
Associate researcher |
IIT DELHI |
|
2 |
Demisachew Y. |
BSc. |
Assistant researcher |
Addis Ababa |
|
3 |
Andarge Alaro |
BSc. |
Assistant researcher |
Hawassa |
|
4 |
Gutema Mamo |
BSc. |
Assistant researcher |
AMU |
|
5 |
Endale Seyoum |
BSc. |
Assistant researcher |
AMU |
Thematic Areas of the Center
|
Thematic Areas |
Sub-Thematic Areas |
|
Water resources potential assessment and management
|
Water resource potential assessment (surface/ sub-surface) in Abaya Chamo and Omo Gibe basin |
|
Allocation of water resource for various uses |
|
|
Surface and groundwater quality assessment for various uses |
|
|
Hydropower and alternative energy sources |
|
|
Sustainable watershed management |
Integrated watershed management (IWSM) studies |
|
Soil and water conservation effectiveness studies |
|
|
Sedimentation studies on lakes and rivers |
|
|
Watershed prioritization based on hydrologic and soil erosion responses |
|
|
Irrigation and drainage |
Assessment of irrigation potential in Rift Valley lakes and Omo river basin |
|
Rainwater harvesting on modern small-scale irri practice in semi-arid area |
|
|
Small-scale irrigation and management |
|
|
Evaluating and management of salinity on irrigation in Rift Valley and Omo river basin |
|
|
Water supply and sanitation |
Safe water supply and waste water removal and treatment techniques |
|
Safe water coverage assessment |
|
|
1. Investigation of the effectiveness of town water supply distribution system in terms of their efficiency and loss of water, etc. |
|
|
Climate change adaptation and environmental integrity |
Climate change impact assessments on water resource availability, and its impact on agriculture, power |
Regional Cooperation
WRRC is cooperating with Rift Valley Lake Basins Authority, SNNPR Water and Irrigation Office, Hawassa University, South Water Works Design & SupervisionEnterprise, other research institutes and centers in several joint projects and conducting trainings that address a range of water-related issues.
Completed and on-going research projects
Completed projects
|
S.N. |
Title of Research Work |
Research ID No. |
Start Date |
Current Status |
Principal Investigator |
|
1 |
Evaluating effects of SWC practices on the productivity of Sorghum |
Gov/AMU/AMiT/WRRC/03/2016 |
2016 |
Completed |
Asrat Fikire |
|
2 |
Evaluating impacts of climate change on surface water availability and allocation: A case of Bilate Basin |
Gov/AMU/AMiT/WRRC/04/2016 |
2016 |
Completed |
Behailu Hussein |
|
3 |
Evaluation of effect of soil and water conservation on watershedhydrology of Kulfo using SWAT |
GOV/AMU/7,2/AMiT/WRRC/1/2015 |
2015 |
Completed |
Ayalkibet Mekonnen |
|
Ongoing projects
|
|||||
|
1 |
Flow response of Forty Springs under land use land cover change |
GOV/AMU/AMiT/WRRC/3/2015 |
2015 |
Ongoing |
Dr. Santosh Pingale |
|
2 |
Updating the stage-dischargerelationship of the Kulfo River |
Gov/AMU/2,5/AMiT/WRRC/05/2017 |
2017 |
Ongoing |
Behailu Hussein |
|
3 |
Analysis of dam overtopping risk based on uni-variate and bivariate flood frequency analysis: The case of Gidabo Dam |
Gov/AMU/7,7/AMiT/WRRC/03/2017 |
2017 |
Ongoing |
Sintayehu Yadate |
|
4 |
Household bio-sand filter as a conventional water Treatment tech, its sustainability and adaptability in and semiarid areas: The case of Konso and Borena Areas |
Gov/AMU/12,4/AMiT/WRRC/04/2017 |
2017 |
Ongoing |
Mosisa Teferi |
|
5 |
Evaluating performance of tomato crop under surface Irrigation |
Gov/AMU/2/AMiT/WRRC/5/2015 |
2015 |
Ongoing |
Gutema Mamo |
|
6 |
Climate change impact, adaptation and mitigation strategies in Gelanawatershed |
Gov/AMU/2,5/AMiT/WRRC/06/2017 |
2017 |
Ongoing |
Amba Shalishe |
|
7 |
Optimal water resources allocation under the constraint of the climate change in Hare River |
Gov/AMU/AMiT/WRRC/2/2016 |
2016 |
Ongoing |
Chekol Tamalew |
|
8 |
Tracking moisture sources of rain-bearing systems over north-west Ethiopia: Case of Tana basin |
Gov/AMU/AMiT/WRRC/2/2017 |
2017 |
Ongoing |
Assefa Derib |
|
9 |
Developing web-based parsimonious decision support tools for managing water resources of Abaya-Chamo catchment |
GOV/AMU/Grand,1/AWTI/WRRC/01/2010 |
2018 |
ongoing |
Mekuanent Muluneh |
|
10 |
Can irrigated agriculture using Lake Abaya be sustainable? |
GOV/AMU/Grand,1/AMIT/WRRC/02/2010 |
2018 |
ongoing |
Dr. Kinfe K. |
|
11 |
Experimental study of irrigation scheduling based on soil moisture status for maize crop in a semi-aridenvironment |
GOV/AMU/7,1/AMIT/WRRC/04/2010 |
2018 |
Ongoing |
Dr. Samuel D. |
|
12 |
Assessment of soil erosion risk and uncertainties in the soil loss predictions using different resolutions of topographic data in sub-catchment of Rift Valley basin |
GOV/AMU/7,7/AMIT/WRRC/02/2010 |
2018 |
ongoing |
Mr.Aschalew C. |
|
13 |
Sedimentation management in hydropower dam (Neshe multipurpose dam) |
GOV/AMU/4,3/AMIT/WRRC/04/2010 |
2018 |
ongoing |
Mr. Sisay S. |
|
14 |
De-fluoridation using waste residue extract from alum manufacturing and assessing effect on ‘water quality’
|
GOV/AMU/7,2/AWTI/WRRC/03/2010 |
2018 |
ongoing |
Dr. Beshah M. |
|
15 |
Modern water control and management practices in irrigation system of lower Kulfo watershed |
GOV/AMU/7, 2/AWTI/WRRC/03/2010 |
2018 |
ongoing |
Ayalkibet Mekonnen |
|
16 |
Rrole of irrigation technology in the management of wastewater reuse performance & its potential hazards
|
GOV/AMU/7,2/AWTI/WRRC/02/2010 |
2018 |
ongoing |
Bogale Bitane |
|
17 |
Agricultural water management under small-holder irrigated farms and its impact on soil fertility, nutrient |
GOV/AMU/Ph.D,1/AWTI/WRRC/01/2010 |
2016
|
Ongoing |
Mr. Demlash W. (PhD research Work) |
|
18 |
Unlocking hydrological variability & water availability for irrigation development in small upland watershed, southern Ethiopia |
GOV/AMU/Ph.D.,2AWTI/WRRC/02/2010 |
2016 |
ongoing |
Mr Kassawu B. (PhD research work) |
Arba Minch University