At any given time, there are a number of different kinds of water projects being arranged in Africa. This is because in many different areas of Africa, there are severe issues with water supplies as well as gaining access to clean and sanitary water. Tragically millions of people in Africa die every year from a variety of avoidable diseases and health issues due to issues with the water supply.
Managing Water Projects Effectively
Water projects in sub-Saharan Africa (also known as the Southern African region) face many problems in terms of providing basic services to communities living in remote areas. The lack of access to fresh water means that many people in communities living in poverty will have to drink contaminated water to survive. Waterborne diseases are also rife, making the task of filtering, purifying and treating safe drinking water even more challenging. The following article describes some of the challenges water projects in Africa face.
Issues With Sanitation
In terms of sanitation, water projects in sub-Saharan Africa face a number of sanitation challenges. The lack of running water means that people will have to rely on other sources, such as rivers and lakes for bathing, washing and cooking. Furthermore, many communities lack access to latrines or waste water pits, meaning that sanitation remains a challenge. Finally, the lack of effective waste water and solid waste management means that many people will also be forced to rely on private waste water pits and wells.
The lack of access to basic sanitation means that many individuals and families will be forced to build their own toilet and wash basin. This is especially problematic in rural areas where infrastructure is often non-existent. Furthermore, many rural dwellers will build their own water pipes to bring clean water to their homes and are sometimes not aware of the risks involved. As a result, they risk carrying infectious diseases and causing contamination in drinking water. To address this sanitation issue, most water projects in Africa have now installed water purification systems and waste water pits.
Positive Actions That Can Make A Difference
The water supply networks sanitation challenges are exacerbated by the poor quality of potable water available from rivers and lakes. In addition, many communities lack access to clean water from taps and will have to rely on boreholes to bring clean drinking water to their homes. In rural areas, this can prove risky given that many people die from dehydration and malnutrition when they drink contaminated water.
Building wells is also a major issue in rural Africa. Often, people live too far away from villages to have access to running water and often, they do not have the necessary skills or resources to build the necessary infrastructure. Consequently, many water projects in Africa will face problems in meeting their objectives. Moreover, building wells requires financing which is limited for projects in many parts of the developing world. Because of these and other factors, most water projects in Africa will tend to cater to remote rural communities rather than larger metropolitan areas. For example, in Sub Saharan Tanzania, most water projects have been operating for residents of the small towns since the programme began.
Other Issues And Challenges Associated With Water Projects
Overall, there are many issues and challenges associated with water projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Water, sanitation and other health issues remain significant concerns. However, it is clear that water projects in Africa are making a difference in the lives of communities. In addition to providing clean water for domestic use and rural development, projects will also help improve the water supply for millions of people in areas where piped water is unavailable.