Inside Hidden Forest Reservoir Storing Millions of Liters of Water

Deep within the dense canopy of Mount Marsabit National Park lies the Bakuli Dam, a vital piece of water infrastructure that holds millions of liters of water for Marsabit town and its surroundings.

This critical facility, located about eight kilometers from Marsabit town, is the primary source of clean water for thousands of residents in this historically water-scarce region of northern Kenya.

Constructed under the Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program, the development of the newer Bakuli 4 buttress dam has helped mitigate acute water shortages in Saku Constituency.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the national government jointly funded the water supply infrastructure project at a cost of over Sh1.7 billion.

The Northern Water Works Development Agency (NWWDA) oversaw the implementation of this project, which was contracted to Sinohydro Corporation Limited.

The newly built concrete buttress dam stands 20 meters high and has a total storage capacity of 300,000 cubic meters.

This infrastructure was built to augment the town's domestic supply, which previously plummeted during dry seasons, causing severe stress to the local population.

Historically, the older reservoir components built since the 1980s could only deliver about 260 cubic meters of water per day during prolonged dry spells.

With the completion of the new dam, the system is designed to supply up to 1,300 cubic meters of water per day to meet local demand.

From the reservoir, water is pumped across a steep 170-meter head to a treatment facility.

This plant utilizes two newly installed Composite Filtration Units (CFUs) to clean the water before distribution.

The treated water is then gravity-fed into three masonry storage tanks with a combined capacity of 550 cubic meters.

The Marsabit Water and Sewerage Company (MARWASCO) manages the distribution of this water across the municipality.

Its current network covers five main distribution zones within the central ward, namely the Hospital, Ajaa Tisa, Madaraka Estate, Old Town, and Governors Line zones.

The utility company operates five community kiosks, which help manage supply through rationing to ensure all residents get access.

Despite the massive storage capacity, MARWASCO currently abstracts around 700 cubic meters per day, which is still a major improvement over previous years.

In addition to the dam, the broader project scope included the laying of a 20-kilometer transmission pipeline and the construction of a new office block for the local water company.

These additions have built the institutional capacity of MARWASCO to manage both the old and new water networks effectively.

By enhancing the municipal water grid, the project has reduced the distance local communities, particularly women and children, have to walk in search of clean water.

It also serves critical public institutions in Saku, including the Marsabit Referral Hospital, which recently received an upgraded pipeline to handle increased flow.

The forest setting of the dam within the national park provides natural filtration and protection from siltation, making environmental conservation of the surrounding Mt Marsabit catchment area crucial.

Local environmental groups and county officials continue to emphasize the importance of protecting this fragile ecosystem, as the forest acts as a critical water tower for the arid county.

As weather patterns become more erratic, the sustainable management of the Bakuli reservoir remains key to securing the future of Marsabit township.