Hydrograph separation using hydrochemical tracers in the Makanya catchment, Tanzania

Abstract

Hydrochemical tracers were used to separate and quantify different runoff components in the semi-arid Makanya catchment in the South Pare Mountains of Tanzania. One flood event was investigated during the rainy season of October–December 2005 and analysed for electrical conductivity, dissolved silica and major anions and cations. The event on 9 November 2005 showed two peaks, each originating from one of two sub-catchments, upper-Vudee and Ndolwa, each with a distinct water quality signature. Hydrograph separation indicated that the two peaks in the hydrograph originated from a delay in response between the two catchments. The hydrograph separation indicated that, for this event, over 95% of the discharge could be attributed to sub-surface runoff, while the remainder was due to faster surface runoff processes. The dominance of sub-surface processes was also indicated by the lack of suspended sediments in the samples, which is a clear indication that no surface runoff took place.