Evaluation of Different Lining Materials for Seepage Lose Control on Water Harvesting Structures at Raya Valley, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Water harvesting has been practiced for many years in several regions globally and is mainly used for domestic or agricultural purposes. Water harvesting with tanks and ponds is one option to increase water availability and agricultural production at the household level. Seepage loses through soils has a great influence on their stabilities and performances water harvesting, and seepage control is a critical technological issue. A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons (2013/14 and 2014/15) at Mehoni Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia 12° 51'50'' N latitude, 39° 68'08'' E longitude and 1578 masl altitude with the objective to  identify the best low cost lining material for water harvesting pond. Four treatments Compaction alone, Mortar, ash (local heater) and benthonites were used to evaluate the different lining materials for seepage loses control.  Randomized completely block design (RCBD) with four replication was used. Results indicated that ash and compaction alone was gave lowest in seepage loses control and cheap in material and labour cost. Bentonite more reduced seepage loss, lower reduction in depth of the pond and expensive in material and labour cost as compare to the other lining materials. In the other hand mortar was gave relatively similar result in seepage lose control, lower reduction in depth, but cheapest in material cost than bentonite.

Keywords: Lining Material, Pond, Seepage, Water Harvesting