ABSTRACT Though water gives a lot of benefits to the local communities as various activities done by man need water such as washing, cooking, drinking, cooling machines, irrigation transportation, bathing and others. But man through deforestation along water sources, caused a great scarcity of this water. This study was conducted in December 2008 to January 2009 in Arumeru district during the study one hundred and fifty respondents were interviewed from the area. The aim of the study was the assessment on the water scarcity and distribution in Arumeru district. The specific objectives was to find out the causes and effects of water scarcity in Arumeru district not only that but the sources and uses of water in Arumeru and lastly the solution to water scarcity in Arumeru district. Data collection involved both qualitative and qualitative methods. Also self administered questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents and key informants. The researcher also used focus group discussions. The data collected was analyzed using the statistical package for social scientists. The study concluded that the government should improves and allocates move boreholes, wells, springs and dams, also they should be protected through afforestation and reforestation also rain water should be harvested, recycling and treating water from sea, oceans, lakes, rivers and others. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION .................................................................................................................. ii 

APPROVAL FOR SUBMISSION ........................................................................................ iii 

DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... iv 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...................................................................................................... v 

LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ viii 

LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... viii 

LIST OF PLATES .............................................................................................................. ix 

ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... x 

1.0 CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................... 1 

Background to the Study ............................................................................................... 1 

1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 

1.2 Statement of the problem ..................................................................................... 3 

1. 3 Purpose of the study .......................................................................................... 4 

1.4 Objectives of the study ..................................................................................... 4 

1.5 Research questions ............................................................................................ 4 

1.6 scope of the study ................................................................................................... 5 

1. 7 Significance of the study .................................................................................. 5 

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. 6 

LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 6 

2. 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 6 

2.1 Sources of water .................................................................... · .................................. 6 

2.2 water scarcity and its causes ............................................................................... 6 

2.3 water scarcity and its effects ............................................................................... 7 

2.4 solutions to water scarcity .................................................................................... 7 

CHAPTER THREE .............................................................................................................. 9 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 9 

3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 9 

3.2 Research design .................................................................................................. 9 

3.3 Area of study and study population ............................................................... 9 

3.4 Sample size and sampling techniques ........................................................... 9 

3.5 Data collection techniques ............................................................................. 10 

3.5.1 Questionnaires ............................................................... , .................................. 10 

3.5.2 Interviews ........................................................................................................... 10 

3.5.3 Observation and photograph ......................................................................... 10 

3.5.4 Secondary data .................................................................................................. 11 

3.6 Data analysis ...................................................................................................... 11 

3.6 Limitation of the study .................................................................................... 11 

VI 

CHAPTER FOUR .............................................................................................................. 12 

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS ...................................................... 12 

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 12 

4.1.1 The main source of water .............................................................................. 12 

4.1.2 The main source of water and its uses ....................................................... 13 

4.2.2 Causes of water scarcity in Arumeru district ............................................. 14 

4.2.1 Effects of human activities on water scarcity in Arumeru district ...... 15 

4.2.2 Awareness about forest reserves and importance ................................... 17 

4.3 Effects of water scarcity in Arumeru district ............................................ 17 

4.3.1 Effect of water scarcity to the indigenous of Arumeru district .......... 21 

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................ 23 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................. 23 

5. 1 conclusions .............................................................................................................. 23 

5.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................. 24 

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 26 

APPENDICES .................................................................................................................... 28 

QUESTIONNAIRE ............................................................................................................. 28