The Cost of Water in Africa

1
The Cost of Water in Africa

• By Allison Colwell

2
Overview

• Water scarcity what is it?
• Reasons for scarcity in Africa
• Causes for water conflict
• Degree of water scarcity
• Political bounds ( countries sharing supply)
• Accessibility to alternative supplies
• 3 case studies
• Nile River
• Lesotho Highlands Project, South Africa
• Namibia

3
If the earth is made up of more water than land,
why is water scarcity an issue?
Water scarcity when amount of water removed puts
the ecosystem at risk

• Uneven distribution
• 3 freshwater
• .3 accessible freshwater
• Estimated 1.1 billion people lack adequate clean
  water supplies
• Adequate meaning 5 liters per person per day

4
Driving Forces for Scarcity in Africa

• Climate
• Population growth
• Inadequate water policies
• Misuse/overuse
• Pollution

5
Effect of Population and Climate on Water Supply
Increased population increase in food
production industrial development more
water usage

• 2/3 arid land
• No major rivers in northern region
• Low rainfall
• High evaporation rates
• Low surface water flow
• Little groundwater recharge

6
Conflict in the Nile River Basin

• Most powerful nations upstream
• Growing population (250 million dependent on
  Nile)
• Runs through international borders (9 nations)
• Long history of tension over water supplies
• Under British Egypt and Sudan made agricultural
  societies, built many dams, altering and
  decreasing flow downstream
• Inadequate water policies
• 7 major agreements signed, but never between more
  than 3 states

7
Water Transfers in Gauteng Region, South Africa

• 1998 first water deliveries
• problems
• US 8 billion
• Increased water rates, marginalize poor
• 20,000 displaced, inadequate compensation and
  water supply
• Disease from contamination
• Decline in animal, plant, bird and fish species

• Desert to semi desert region
• Population growth (rapid urbanization)
• 7 of 9 major rivers on international bounds
• Misuse 15-20 wasted through inefficient
  processes (irrigating, mining, etc.)
• Alternative supply water-rich Lesotho
• 1986 Lesotho Highlands Project
• Diverting water from Senqu River to flow north
  into Gauteng province

8
Water Scarcity in Namibia

• Uneven distribution of water supplies throughout
  communal and commercial regions
• 1990 Dept. of Water Affairs ordered to drill
  thousands of boreholes and pipelines
• Increases water supply to population
• Depletes groundwater supplies
• Degrades land

9
Conclusion

• Climate, population growth, and inadequate water
  policies directly effect water availability in
  regions
• Through smaller dam projects and better
  international policies water management can be
  improved