An assessment of effectiveness of the Lunyangwa River catchment co-management model in Mzuzu City, Northern Malawi

An assessment of the effectiveness of Lunyangwa River catchment co-management model in Mzuzu City, Northern Malawi has been carried out. This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the approach in boosting Northern Region Water Board’s (NRWB) water production capacities and simultaneously addressing water quality challenges facing NRWB. A questionnaire survey was carried out to elicit information pertaining to formation and implementation of the approach. The results of the survey were analysed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of management policies and programs, from the perspective of catchment co-management. Literature was reviewed to form a conceptual framework for the investigation of the effectiveness of catchment co-management. Direct observations were also done to collect data on the physical attributes of the catchment area. Water samples were collected from 54 sites using standard sampling procedures and analysed for pH, EC, TDS, turbidity and faecal coliform count using standard methods. The study revealed that there was a quest to empower and improve the capacity of grass-root level community members to participate effectively in co-management decision making. However, it was observed that regardless of season, the population-poverty-environment nexus is negatively affecting the implementation of the co-management approach. The nexus has led to degradation of trees for community livelihoods, which results in increased levels of silt loads that increases turbidity in Lunyangwa River catchment and Gulliver dam (turbidity range = 130–225 NTU). The high turbidity levels led to increase in the amount of coagulant dose used to treat raw water. Raw water of turbidity levels higher than 200 NTU used a coagulant dose of about 7.5 mg/ℓ, which is higher than a 0.5 mg/ℓ coagulant dose that was being used before high turbidity problems. In addition, inadequate sanitary facilities for human settlements, particularly those established in upper Lunyangwa River catchment area also contributed to the deterioration of the microbial quality of water in Lunyangwa River catchment and dam (faecal coliform > 1000 counts/mℓ). The water from Lunyangwa River could be classified as freshwater (TDS < 1000 mg/ℓ) which registered a uniformly fair water quality rating (WQI range = 33.12–35.03%). The water levels in Gulliver dam were also observed to have been going down. A collaborative and systems approach is suggested for sustainable management of freshwater resources in Lunyangwa River catchment area since co-management is a novel approach and might require more effort to be understood by grass-root level community and stakeholders.