Anthony Scaletta

Geography of Africa

April 8, 2010

Inside Africa's Water Crisis

More than half of all African’s lack access to safe drinking water (UN) The avg. distance a woman in Africa walks to collect water is 3.75 miles 1/3 of women in Egypt walk over an hour/day for water In other parts of Africa, the task can consume as much as 8 hrsWomen can expend as much as 85% of their daily energy intake on

getting waterThe weight of water that women in Africa carry on their heads: 40-50lbs. Medical research has documented cases of permanent damage to

women's health as a result of carrying water Chronic fatigue, Spinal & pelvic deformities, Effects on reproductive health

including spontaneous abortionOf all the renewable water available in Africa each year, only 4% is used

Most Africans lack Wells, Canals, Pumps, Reservoirs, & Irrigation Systems

Overview

Sources: World Health Report (WHO, 2004), Medilinks.org

OverviewWater CoverageLowest overall water supply

coverage of any region in the world14 countries <50% coverage for

national water supply~ 62% of Africans have access to

improved water supplyUrban-Rural Disparity

Sanitation ~ 60% sanitation coverage overall

10 countries <50% coverage for sanitation

45% rural / 84% urban

WHO Data (1990-2000)Urban areas steady in coverage

and sanitation Rural water supply increased

slightly while rural sanitation has fallen

Water & Sanitation Crisis Waterborne Diseases killing in large numbers Limits economic growth and development

Looking AheadAfrica’s Rapid Population Growth : Widening the GapPopulation Projected to increase by 65% over the next 25 years

Another 400 million people will need access to safe water & sanitation Accelerates Deforestation

Climate Change Droughts

~ Half of Africa's population is threatened by desertificationPoverty Linkage2 in 3 people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a

day

Overview

Access to clean water is the most essential necessity for all people Water ScarcityAn environmental constraint that hinders development Creates Social Conflicts btw. various water users

Individuals, Communities, Industries, Livestock, Wildlife, and Agricultural Users

Lack of water perpetuates the Poverty Trap Closely linked to human welfare and healthMost costly for those that can least afford it (urban slums/remote

villages)Time and energy spent obtaining water impacts ability to pursue

income or education Poverty in Rural Africa

Poor households in the agricultural subsistence economy hit the hardest

1994 Tanzania Case Study: Limited water resources #1 cause of rural poverty

Poverty & Lack of Water Access

Table 1: Distribution of Households by Access to Drinkable Water and Regions (1994)

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/video/player#/?titleID=burden-of-thirst&catID=1

Case Study: "The Burden of Thirst" by Tina Rosenberg

Millions of African women spend their day collecting water

Aylito Binayo's Story 25 years oldForo Village, Konso District, Southwestern Ethiopia

Ongoing drought – river is exhausted Dropped out of school @ 8yrs. old to help her mother

fetch waterSpends +8hrs/day fetching water Steep, mountainous terrain 6 Gallon Jerry Can: 50 pounds of water on her backWaits long hours in line for waterThe water is dirty and unsafe to drink

"The Burden of Thirst" by Tina Rosenberg

A lack of water is at the center of a vicious circle of inequalityFetching water is always women’s work Konso men only haul water during the few weeks following the birth of a baby Young boys fetch water up to 7 or 8 yrs. old

Rule is enforced fiercely by men and women. Binayo: "If the boys are older, people gossip that the woman is lazy”

A Konso woman’s reputation rests on her hard work Binayo: "If I sit and stay at home and do nothing, nobody likes me. But if I run up

and down to get water, they say I'm a clever woman and work hard." Some Konso women come down to the river 5 times/day

1-2 trips devoted to getting water to make home brew for their husbands Binayo makes journey 3 times/day and never questions it Binayo’s View:“When we are born, we know that we will have a hard life. It is the culture of Konso

from a long time before us.”

Konso Culture : Gender Roles

Proper hand washing alone can cut diarrheal diseases by 45 %Every drop counts when that water is carried up a mountain Binayo makes do w/ 2.5 gals/day (Avg. American: +100 gals/day ) Washes her hands w/ water "maybe once a day” She washes her own body only occasionally Washes clothes once a year

"We don't even have enough water for drinking—how can we wash our clothes?"

2007 Survey: No households in Konso District had water w/ soap near their latrines

to wash their hands Binayo's family recently dug a latrine but cannot afford to buy soap Villager to Outreach Worker: “You tell me to use soap, then give me

the money to buy it.”

Sanitation Issues in Konso

HealthForo Village Health Clinic: 70% suffer from waterborne

diseasesDiarrhea

Bacteria & Parasites : Lack of proper hygiene/sanitation Drinking untreated river water

Konso District Health Center ~ Half of all patients suffer from waterborne diseasesLimited water resources Runs out of water 4 months out of year

Relies on government to truck in river water Not enough water for disinfection

Sanitation Issues in Konso

Bringing clean water closer to people's homes is key 40% of households in Sub-Saharan Africa: >30 Minutes from nearest

water sourceDirect access to clean water transforms communities

Promotes Grassroots development Allows more time to grow food, raise animals, seek education &

generate income

GovernmentWater is commonly addressed at the District and Local

Governmental levels in most of Africa Lack the funds and technological expertise needed to provide wells No political representation for rural villages

NGOsPrimary Implementers of Water SchemesTendency to breakdown after NGO moves-on

2007 Survey of Konso District: 9 out of 35 projects still functioning Repairs not possible: Lack of money, or spare part to far away

Sustainability and Community involvement crucial

Responses to the Water Crisis

2003 University of Dar es Salaam Study Small scale Projects: Most cost effective & easily managed Sustainability ensured w/ “Demand-Driven & Community

Participation” Approach Prevents conflicts

Focus: Community involvement in solving water problems is key

Project Initiation, Planning, Implementation, and Maintenance

Strengthening women’s participation in the planning & decision making

Village/User ownership emphasized Empowers the poor

Community-Based Projects

WaterAidUK-based international NGO Mission: To transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene & sanitation in the world's poorest communities.WaterAid in Konso District, Ethiopia• Installed RWH System at the District Health Center • Sand Dam Construction

• Capture and filter water that would otherwise drain away• Methane capturing toilets for communal kitchen use

WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) Community-Based Program• Involves local community in designing, building, & maintaining new water projects• 7 Person Committee- w/ mandatory minimum of 4 women

• Works w/WaterAid to plan projects and involves the village in construction

• Maintains and runs the project

Foro Village Community Water Pump Project Village work parties constructed trench and installed pipes Each villager contributed a few cents to help fund project

Villagers own and control their own water supply Water-Guard

1 capful purifies a jerry can User Fees

One penny per jerry can Key to sustaining project Villagers initial resistance: “Water is a gift from God.”

1 penny/jerry can: Cheaper than time spent hauling water and lives lost to disease

WaterAid Survey Latrine use up from 6% to 25 % (2007-2009)

SODIS: Solar Water Disinfection

• Simple procedure to disinfect drinking water• Contaminated water is filled in a transparent PET-bottle and exposed to the sun for 6 hrs. • UV-radiation kills diarrhea generating pathogens• Research has proven the SODIS method is both safe and effective •WHO, UNICEF, and Red Cross recommend the SODIS method as a way to treat drinking water in developing countries13 African Countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe~ 2 million Africans are currently using SODIS

PlayPumps

• Invented in South Africa  •700 PlayPump systems installed in South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia

• Providing clean drinking water for +1 million people•660-gallon storage tank • Pumps up to 370 gallons per hour • Reaches a depth of up to 330 feet • Recycles unused water • Installed near communities and schools •Use of billboards for social and public health messages•By 2011: Clean drinking water for 10 million people in 10 African countries

Community Outreach: The Tip-Tap

What Can You Do?

Join the Third Annual Water Walk for Women’s Rights

Sunday, April 11th @ 1pmCathedral of Learning in Oakland

For more info: www.amizade.org

1). Discuss the link between a lack of direct access to an improved water source and poverty in rural Africa.2). Provide an overview of the water crisis in Africa and briefly discuss some of the responses that have been implemented at the local level.

Essay Questions

Gine, Ricard, and Agusti Perez-Foguet. "Sustainability Assessment of National Rural Water Supply Program in Tanzania." National Resources Forum 32 (2008): 327-42. Web.

Madulu, Ndalahwa F. "Linking Poverty Levels to Water Resource Use and Conflicts in Rural Tanzania." Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 28 (2003): 911-17. Web.

Rosenberg, Tina. "The Burden of Thirst." National Geographic Apr. 2010: 96-111. Web.

UNESCO. Web. 03 Apr. 2010. <http://www.wateryear2003.org>.

"Water Data for Africa." Medilinks Africa - The Gateway to Africa Health and Medical Information. Web. 03 Apr. 2010. <http://medilinkz.org/healthtopics/water/WaterAfrica2002.htm>.

Works Cited