IWM can be used as a tool to secure the still insufficient and unstable fresh water supply of Mbale City. The Manafwa Waterworks located downstream of the Manafwa river provides fresh water to Mbale but has capacity only for approximately two-thirds of the population. The causes range from institutional, political and economic conditions to environmental, technical and social circumstances.

The base flow has to be stabilized to secure the water supply of Mbale City as well as the water availability in the subcatchment. Alike, for sustainable and efficient urban water supply, average and peak flow as well as the IWM principles have to be considered.