Over 300 million Africans lack access to clean and safe
water for drinking and 700 million are living in poor conditions without
adequate sanitation. A possible reason for this situation is that there are
insufficient financial incentives in place to maintain safe water sources and
to continuously coach appropriate hygiene practices.
Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from chronically overburdened
water systems under increasing stress from fast-growing urban areas. Weak
governments, corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor long-term investment,
and a lack of environmental research and urban infrastructure only exacerbate
the problem. In some cases, the disruption or contamination of water supply in
urban infrastructures and rural area has incited domestic and cross-border
violence. Incorporating water improvements into economic development is
necessary to end the severe problems caused by water stress and to improve
public health and advance the economic stability of the region.
Sadly, Africa’s water problems have continued to compound
and the continent now faces a serious problem. A majority of the population
finds it difficult to access clean and fresh water for drinking and running
other daily household chores. Most
people in Africa rely on surface water, yet the continent lacks the financial
capability and technology to invest in groundwater harnessing such as the
digging of wells. The rising population and strain on the available water
resources has contributed to an acute water scarcity, which has triggered both
social and economic implications.
Since water in Africa is a core ingredient for sustainable
development, its availability is key to facilitate human survival,
socioeconomic development, and healthy ecosystems. If there is sufficient water
for communities, diseases shall be contained and populations will become more
productive.
Most of the suffering witnessed by African populations is
mainly associated with water scarcity which directly affects human health,
causes hunger and starvation, as well as influences security because of
water-related conflicts. In addition, sanitation is a serious challenge that
faces the continent because many people, especially those living in
disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, lack dedicated sewage systems, which causes them
to live in unsanitary conditions threatening the spread of diseases.
Access to clean, safe water is fundamental to life. It is
essential to health and well-being, but also food, energy, prosperity and
economic growth. Yet the impacts of climate change threaten to make water
scarcity an even more pressing issue for even more people. Successfully
safeguarding this precious resource requires true partnership between
organizations, both public and private.
We need water to grow our agricultural materials, keep our
factories running and even for customers to use our products when they cook,
clean and wash. We’re working hard to use water more efficiently within our own
supply chain and to innovate products that help our consumers use less
water.
What can be
done to help alleviate water stress in Africa?
. Because sub-Saharan Africa is subject to more extreme
climate variability than other regions, it needs improved water storage capacity.
Large dam projects would create a more sustainable reserve of water resources
to combat the burden of climate fluctuations, but other disagree, stating the
harmful environmental impact of large dams.
. More water treaties are needed; transboundary water
agreements have cultivated international cooperation and reduced the "probability
of conflict and its intensity."
. Better donor emphasis on water development is needed. I am
concerned that global environmental issues are upstaging Africa-specific issues
of water development.
. Small-scale agricultural improvements also offer a
solution to water stress, including the harvest of water in shallow wells, drip
irrigation for crops, the use of pumps, and other technological innovations. The
key thing is the concept of green water as opposed to blue water. Blue water is
the water we see in streams. Green water is the water we don’t see in the soil,
and green water accounts for two-thirds of the water supply." Farmers can
access green water through drip irrigation (systems that slowly and
consistantly deliver water to plant’s toot system), supplemental irrigation
(supplementary to natural rainfall rather than the primary source of moisture
during periods of drought) and rainwater harvesting (the collection of
rainwater for crops, which reduces reliance on irrigation). Crops can grow poorly
even during periods of rainfall, and most farms in Africa suffer from nitrogen
and phosphorus depletion in soil. One way to assuage water stress in terms of
food scarcity is to increase water-holding capacity with organic fertilizers
that would increase availability and efficacy of green water.
. The hydrological, engineering and social sciences have
great roles to play to enable African economies overcome the acute and often
devastating water problems confronting them now and in future decades. This can
be done through a framework that promotes efficiency, equity and
sustainability.
. A more comprehensive approach to water resources
management that enables sound policy development and strong institutional
set-up, private sector initiatives and effective river basin management is
needed and would constitute the pillars of sustainable water use for human
consumption and development.
. The expansion of supplies may be achieved through
scientifically designed water harvesting technologies and water transfers from
areas of water surplus to those of water deficit. Science could also promote
resource intensification to achieve a higher output per unit of water, particu-
larly in agriculture, which accounts for some 88% of the continent's water
allocation.
Agrohydrological studies should continue to provide
increasing guidance for economic diversification in favour of activities, or
crops and species, which consume less water. The social sciences should provide
appropriate economic and regulatory instruments for combination with
technological ones for water demand management. Science offers many
possibilities for helping to resolve the problems plaguing Africa's water
sector. This can be achieved by bringing about a balance between demands for
and supply of water for the competing needs of the different sectors of the
national economies. Science also offers the opportunity for a better
understanding of the interrelationships between the hydrological and
biogeochemical cycles on the one hand, and food production on the other, and
provides the framework and tools for linking water resources planning with
landscape/ecological planning.
CONCLUSION
Lack of access to clean and safe water has frustrated
poverty reduction efforts and hindered economic prosperity. For instance,
Sub-Saharan Africa loses 5% of its GDP per year as a result of water-related
challenges. In addition, 40 billion hours per year, which could have otherwise
been used on productive activities, are spent searching for water.
Improved access to quality water is a long-term goal that
requires more than humanitarian funds. Failure to deal decisively with water
and water-related issues at the country level, as well as in the context of
large drainage basins involving several countries, could further result to more
serious Water problems in Africa, The ongoing serious conflicts in Africa
during could also undermine development programmes in African countries and
exacerbate poverty and environ- mental degradation. #WaterAccess #Sustainability
#SDG6 #SDGS #HumanityandInclusivity
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