Abstract
The water problem is among the leading challenges affecting millions of people in Africa. According to the United Nations, water is a requisite human right. Hence, water is a source of life, yet water shortage has become a global issue. Africa is one nation that faces serious water shortage problems due to the tremendous increase in population and climate change. Moreover, the increase in water consumption for industries, and agriculture have stressed water supply systems because the consumption now exceeds the nature’s supply of water. There are limited sources of clean water supplies to the African population. Therefore, there is the need for the development of new water sources while conserving the scarce resource so as to help solve water supply problems in Africa. Through building water projects, preserving, and managing the existing resources wisely, Africa can solve its water issue.
Have we ever wondered what might happen if we run out of water? Water is an indispensable resource in every human’s life. However, it has become a finite and scarce resource in most countries in Africa. Moreover, water shortage has become a significant threat to human health, the ecosystem, and food security. As a result, the African continent faces serious water supply problems that need urgent solutions. According to Turton, most of the people in Africa are now buying their drinking water, while others are condemned to drinking contaminated water from their taps (1999). They still consider themselves lucky because many other people do not have the facility or running tap water since water has become a scarce resource for them. However, the water crisis in Africa can be solved despite it being among the leading continents in water shortage.
Africa has a significant problem, which is the water problem and this affects the public health. Most Africans are unable to access a clean supply of water. The most affected are the people living in rural Africa whereby even if they have water, the water is at risk of contamination. According to a report done by the (WHO) World Health Organization, if proper solutions are not put in place, millions of people in Africa will fall short of this natural resource (2006). Different ways can be used to ensure adequate water is supplied to African countries. The first solution is by developing new water resources whereby this will help increase water supplies. This will be done by developing the already available potential water resources in Africa. Secondly, the other solution for water problems in Africa is to decrease the demand for water by managing the available sources. The third solution to water supply problems in Africa is by inventing pump systems that provide clean water to the residents.
It is the responsibility of every African citizen to help in managing water systems so as to protect the environment and have food security in the future. Therefore, by increasing the supply of water, this will help to solve water shortage problems. By developing new water resources, most government will help solve water problems in their regions. In Africa, many available water resources can be developed if the parties are determined to curb the water problems in their areas. This can be done by implementing intelligent water systems and conservation methods, which will help optimize water usage thus conserving the natural resource (Buras, 2000). First, the governments can develop new water resources through traditional methods by building reservoirs, wells, canals, dams, and even pumps to collect and contain the excessive flow of water. The improvement of wells and the rain catchment systems will help solve water supply problems. By doing this, the government will help contain wasted water flows thus saving it for future use, for instance during water crises. Secondly, with the use of exotic and unconventional methods, the government can desalinate and recycle wastewater for use again. This can be done with the use of exotic schemes such as fog collection, towing icebergs, and cloud seeding.
The use of water has to be charged appropriately, and this can be done by decreasing the demand for water and monitoring its consumption. Most people misuse water by wasting it all the time. Nonetheless, if the use of water is regulated by limiting the resource, most African countries will solve water supply problems in their countries (Van Rooijen, Biggs, Smout, and Drechsel, 2009). The African nations should educate their citizens to use the existing water supplies and reserves more wisely. This can be done by minimizing water wastage by limiting consumption and harvesting rainy water for future use other than letting it go to waste on the ground. The citizens can be trained on how to harvest and preserve ground water and to limit their consumption of water. By managing the available water resources, Africa will manage the water supply problems. With new water management and innovative conservation technologies, the water supply if Africa can be increased, thus helping meet the increasing demand (Hardoy, Mitlin, and Satterthwaite, 2013). In addition, education is vital to solving the water crisis in Africa. The people should be educated about their water consumption patterns by teaching them new water usage behaviors. If the problem is much better understood, then it will be easier to solve it.
Another solution to water supply problems in Africa is by developing and improving wastewater treatment facilities. Africa should work on new and efficient methods of wastewater recycling, treatment to cut on water imports, and self-sufficient in meeting its water demand. By doing this, a lot of wastewater will be managed and recycled back to use thus reducing water supply problems. There is a lot of wastewater, and if recycled, it will help meet the high demand for water supply in Africa. The sewage water can be purified or rather cleansed and turned into drinking water through the purification system.
Africa is known to be a home of the biggest water-scarce countries in the world (World Health Organization, 2006). What is more, Africa is also known as the most difficult place to receive water aid because of lack of sustainable solutions. Therefore, the best-recommended method for water provision in Africa is by developing new and long-lasting water projects to supply the people with water (Buras, 2000). Water projects in communities help provide clean and safe water for use for all residents. The water projects can be wells, rain catchment systems, and dams that can provide reliable and safe water to drink for the African nations. Improving water catchment and harvesting is essential to solving water supply challenges in Africa. Building wells and dams in rural areas will ensure that people do not have to walk for several miles in search of water. For instance, Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected with the water supply problem. In addition, since it is subjected to extreme arid climate than most regions in Africa, developing or rather building large dams can help alleviate the water issues in the African region. Moreover, the harvest of water can also help curb the challenge of water supply in Africa. The development of water on new and long-lasting water projects is the best solution for the problem of water supply in Africa.
In conclusion, Africa is a continent that faces adverse water supply problems. Every single day, millions of girls and women have to walk several miles to access water. Most girls do not get a chance to go to school because they are too busy searching for water. Nonetheless, it is an issue that can be resolved if proper methods of water provision are put in place. The governments should ensure that new water projects are done to alleviate water issues. Moreover, if most African governments can manage and use the ground water, they can save it for use during the water crisis time.
Africa faces escalating challenges in supplying clean water for its tremendous growing population. Nevertheless, with sustainable access to safe drinking water through developing new water projects, Africa will achieve the millennium development of providing clean water to the people around the globe. If Africa develops and extends its existing natural water resources, then there will be an adequate water supply for all. There is the need for increased awareness among African leaders and citizens to look for the best strategies that can help curb water the water supply problem in the region.
Reference List
Buras, N. 2000. Building new water resources projects or managing existing systems. Water International. 25, pp. 110-114.
Hardoy, J.E., Mitlin, D. and Satterthwaite, D., 2013. Environmental problems in an urbanizing world: finding solutions in cities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Routledge.
Turton, A. R. 1999. Water and conflict in an African context. Conflict Trends 5, pp. 24–27.
World Health Organization. 2006. Meeting the MDG drinking water and sanitation target: the urban and rural challenge of the decade. Geneva/New York, WHO/UNICEF. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/monitoring/jmpfinal.pdf
Van Rooijen, D.J., Biggs, T.W., Smout, I., and Drechsel, P. 2009. Urban growth, wastewater production, and use in irrigated agriculture: a comparative study of Accra, Addis Ababa, and Hyderabad. Irrigation Drainage Systems, 24, pp. 53-64.
