Departments

Hydrology and Water Resources

Departmental Publications

Mr. John Ongony Odiyo (Head of Department)
BSc (Agric. Eng. Hons.); MSc (Wat. Res. Engin.)

Brief Historical Background

Between 1990 and 1997: Served in various capacities in the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Egerton University in Kenya, rising through the ranks from teaching Assistant, Assistant Lecturer   to Lecturer.  Between 1997 and 2002: Worked as undergraduate tutor in Engineering Hydraulics in the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of the Witwatersrand . In the same period, was involved in stream flow monitoring study in Nysvley floodplain in Limpopo Province of South Africa.

From 2002 to date (2005): Has been working as a senior lecturer and head of the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Venda.

In 2005 he will be doing PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand , specializing in the area of River Hydraulics.  Teaching and research expertise integrate the following areas of applied water sciences: Groundwater hydrology, open channels hydraulics, fluid dynamics, surface water hydrology, applied meteorology, wastewater management and water quality management.

Research and Publications

• J.O. Odiyo , H.M. Bapela, R. Mugwedi and L. Chimuka (2005). Trace metals contamination of soils, vegetation and water in Thohoyandou , South Africa . Submitted for publication to Water SA.
• Odiyo J.O . and Ramusiya F. (2005). Groundwater storage and yield potentials in fractured aquifers in the Thabina Valley , Tzaneen. Presented in Biennial Ground Water Conference held on 7-9 March, 2005 at CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria , South Africa .
• Ochieng, J.O. Odiyo and M. Mutsago (2003). Biological treatment of mixed industrial wastewaters in a fluidized bed reactor. Journal of Harzadous materials B96, 79-90.
• J.O. Odiyo and C.S. James (2002). Modelling sediment dynamics for physical habitat management in bedrock-controlled rivers. Environmental Flows and Ecohydraulics 4 Conference, March 2002, Cape Town , paper in preparation for publication.
• J.O. Odiyo and P.H. Omara-Ojungu (2002). Strategies for effective communication of environmental science to rural communities, Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference, Dec 2002, paper in preparation for publication.
• J.O. Odiyo and C.S. James (1999). Modelling process driven sediment storage response in typical pool-rapid channel types. In: Extended Abstracts in Hydrological  and Geochemical processes in Large Scale River Basins, (ed.), HiBAm, Manaus , Brazil .
• C.P.K. Basalirwa, J.O. Odiyo , R.J. Mngodo and E.J. Mpeta (1999). The climatological regions of Tanzania based on the rainfall characteristics. International Journal of Climatology 19, 69-80.
• J.O. Odiyo (1994) Application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in delineation of Tanzania into homogeneous rainfall regions (MSc dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, 1994).

• J.O. Odiyo (1990) Planning and design of a reservoir across Njoro River to supply water to Egerton University community (BSc dissertation, 1990).

• J.O. Odiyo (2005*) Sediment routing in bedrock-controlled channels (PhD thesis-to be submitted in May, 2005)

Masters and Honours Projects Supervised

• Bapela, H.M. (2004) Analysis of trace metals in soils and plants along roadsides in Thohoyandou town, Limpopo Province , South Africa , MSc.
• Maluleke, D. (2003). Flood risk on human settlement and economic activities along Luvuvhu River Basin , (Honours).
• Mamali, M.A. (2003). The impact of agrochemicals on water quality of the Mutshindudi River , (Honours)
• Mashau, M.S. (2003) (Honours). A case study of the Tshakuma regional water treatment scheme, (Honours).
• Ramarumo, T.C. (2003). The assessment of flood impacts in Nzhelele River basin , (Honours)..
• Miti, K.  (2003). Evaluation of the predictive potentials of theoretical probability distributions on Luvuvhu River basin streamflow data, (Honours).
• Matodzi V.G. (2004). Equitable allocation of water at Thohoyandou area under Thulamela municipality to high and low water demand areas, (Honours).
• Ramusiya F. (2004). The use of different forms of Cooper-Jacob methods in determining the flow characteristics of aquifers in the Thabina Valley , Tzaneen area, Limpopo Province , (Honours)
• Rasiuba T.C. (2004). Rainwater harvesting to augment rural water supply in Lwamondo area of Limpopo Province , (Honours).
• Singo L.R (2005). Extreme rainfall events (droughts and floods) in Vhembe district of the Limpopo Province of South Africa over the 1960-2003 periods, (Honours).
• Makungo R. (2005). Sustainability of groundwater supplies through accelerated recharge in Mukula and Tshaulu villages, Limpopo Province , (Honours).

 On-going Masters and Honours Research Projects

• Equitable or optimal allocation of groundwater amongst competing uses in Dendron-Bochum area of Limpopo Province .
• Water Resources planning zones in the Limpopo Province of South Africa based on runoff characteristics
• Trophic status of Vondo and Albasini water impoundments in the Limpopo Province
• The sustainability of Thulamela and Makhado urban water supply systems and links to socio-economic developments
• The impact of vegetation clearance on the hydrology of Luvuvhu river basin in Soutpansberg area, Limpopo Province
• The impact of land use types on groundwater recharge response in Vhembe district
• Hydrogeological characterization of Mphongolo and Shingwedzi River basins in Kruger National Park , South Africa (joint research with CSIR).

New Research

• Strategic sustainable sewage management system(s) for peri-urban areas, to be funded by Water research Commission (WRC).

Currently working on a proposal on ‘rainwater harvesting for multiple uses in rural areas of Limpopo Province with inadequately developed water supply infrastructure.'