In recent years, many African cities have had to take measures to solve the problem of water shortages.
The historic shortage of Cape Town in 2018 is still fresh in our memory. The South African authorities narrowly avoided disaster by rationing drinking water to 50 liters per day for each resident in a city that consumes a lot of water. In the same year, Bouaké of Côte d’Ivoire received US$8.5 million in emergency funding from the World Bank to deal with severe water shortages. The intervention resolved the shortage by constructing two compact water treatment plants, drilling and installing 20 new wells, repairing 82 hand pumps in villages connected to the urban water supply system, and allocating safe water through water trucks. The first protective measure against the coronavirus recommended by the World Health Organization is to wash hands frequently with soap. Ensuring that all people have access to safe water is clearly essential to continue fighting the spread of COVID-19 and future epidemics.
However, in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 63% of the population in urban areas (representing the main cluster of the virus) find it difficult to access basic water services and cannot wash their hands.
It is estimated that 70% to 80% of diseases in the region can be attributed to poor water quality. For example, dysentery and cholera are the main causes of infant deaths. African governments have now developed rapid response plans to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. However, most of these plans focus on immediate health care response, rather than focusing on improving access to water and sanitation, rather than equipping medical centers and other public places with handwashing facilities. In areas facing rapid urban development, the key issue of access to safe water is particularly important.
By 2050, more than 1.6 billion Africans will live in cities and urban slums.
In the next few years, the population of about 100 major cities will double. Some countries, such as Lagos, Nigeria, with 23 million inhabitants, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, with 12 million inhabitants, are already megacities. There will also be other epidemics in the world. Climate change will increase the number of droughts. Therefore, African governments must formulate strategies, allocate part of their budgets, and formulate policies to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services for all. They can use multiple solutions: In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, Africa will need to invest heavily in the water and sanitation sector over the next 10 years. Approximately US$10-15 billion will be needed each year to provide safe drinking water and basic sanitation services for the entire population. Currently, African countries allocate 0.5% of their GDP to this sector, and the proportion of international aid invested in this field is very small.
In the next few years, the population of about 100 major cities will double. Some countries, such as Lagos, Nigeria, with 23 million inhabitants, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, with 12 million inhabitants, are already megacities.
There will also be other epidemics in the world. Climate change will increase the number of droughts. Therefore, African governments must formulate strategies, allocate part of their budgets, and formulate policies to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene services for all. They can use multiple solutions: In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6, Africa will need to invest heavily in the water and sanitation sector over the next 10 years. Approximately US$10-15 billion will be needed each year to provide safe drinking water and basic sanitation services for the entire population.
Currently, African countries allocate 0.5% of their GDP to this sector, and the proportion of international aid invested in this field is very small.
Ensuring the financial viability of water utilities: A recent World Bank study on the performance of water services in Africa found that half of the region’s utility revenue cannot cover its operating and maintenance costs. Countries urgently need to build the operational capacity and resilience of public and private utilities in order to be able to supply sufficient quantities of high-quality water. They need to do this with politically and socially acceptable tariffs while maintaining financial viability. Wastewater reuse: For many countries, wastewater management has become an important way to meet water demand, especially in urban areas that are developing market gardens and providing important food supplies for urban residents. For example, in Israel, 91% of wastewater is treated, of which 71% is used to irrigate crops. However, in African countries, only 10% of wastewater is treated.
with information from: https://blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/covid-19-solving-africas-water-crisis-more-urgent-ever
