Increasing Clean Water Access in Kenya Using Reverse Osmosis

Abstract

clean water (Marshall, 2011). Kenya’s climate is varied, but many regions are dry and suffer due to lack of clean and accessible potable water. Average annual precipitation of only 10 inches nationally can also heighten the effects of global warming and increase the danger of droughts on the population (Kenya Climate, n.d.). However, improving water filtration, by using systems like reverse osmosis (RO), can help mitigate the water crisis in Kenya. Moreover, Kenya also lacks proper infrastructure for wastewater treatment and transport. RO systems filter unclean water through a semipermeable membrane, removing unhealthy contaminants, leaving pure and drinkable water. This paper will explore the implementation of RO systems on the coasts of Kenya to filter seawater and improve the water resources in Kenya, while accounting for the economic feasibility and potential impacts of this proposal. It is presented that the future installation of optimal RO systems in Kenya will provide its population with improved and more accessible drinking water. These findings could also facilitate the implementation of such projects in other countries.