Mapping Water Issues in Africa - Community Mapping Project

I am a self-confessed map lover, so was particularly taken by this Community Mapping project. A group of students originally from Rutgers University are using the work of NGOs such as Childfund to help communities in Africa adjust to water scarcity. Their aim is ‘to map the demands, problems, progress and regression of African countries’ in order to ‘educate the public and raise awareness’ (Mapping Water Issues in Africa: Our Goal). 

Throughout history maps have been used as power tools by the elite, but projects like this put the cartography process in the hands of the community. As GIS technology becomes increasingly user-friendly, individuals are able to contribute and affect policy decisions. Adapting to water scarcity requires group action and incorporating local knowledge is a highly effective approach.

The team acknowledge that issues of water stress are not simply down to a shortage of supply. They have worked with locals to map different data including water quality, the Ibrahim Index (degree of political stability), population living under $2 a day and mortality rates. 

Several important observations have come from this: North Africa and South Africa show the highest improvements in water sanitation, most particularly in urban areas (Mapping Water Issues in Africa: Observations). This can be seen to be correlated to the Ibrahim Index, with more democratic countries having higher sanitation levels; Examples are southern Africa, Algeria and Senegal. 

This is a key insight as countries without fair governments could be at greater risk of water scarcity. Therefore a vital aim for the future should be to increase political stability, in order to secure water supply. 

I will leave you to explore the maps yourself through this link: Community Mapping Africa. Enjoy!

Strategies for tackling water scarcity - 'Hard' vs. 'Soft' path approaches

In the past, the main method of overcoming water stress has been to invest heavily in infrastructure, particularly dams, to manage supply. This engineering response has been successful in producing cheap food and providing water and sanitation to large numbers of people, but the flip-side is also still apparent (Rijsberman, 2006). A new strategy is needed shifting the focus to demand management. 

The phrase “soft path for water” was coined by Pacific Institute founder, Dr. Peter Gleick. He explains this approach as more results being achieved at less cost, by adjusting the demands on what is presently available, rather than exploiting more of nature’s resources by seeking new supplies (Gleick, 2003). As large areas of Africa become increasingly water scarce, achievable approaches are needed given the limited means available to Africa’s policy makers. Soft path methods to reduce demand are far more realistic than high-cost, "hard path" engineering projects. Organisations such as the World Water Council and Global Water Partnership now encourage strategies that aim for higher water efficiency. 

A soft path approach success story is Biogas Technologies West Africa Limited and their work utilising human waste in specially constructed toilets. The toilets generate biogas, which then drive the lighting and mechanical pumps used to supply water for the toilets (Biogas Online). All the water is recovered and re-used, thereby saving a lot of valuable freshwater. This technology has been implemented in schools, hospitals and military barracks in Ghana and Ivory Coast with great results (Omole and Ndambuki, 2014). 

The advantages of soft path methods are clear: They are considerably cheaper than engineering options, and also incorporate local users in decision making processes. Educating people on impending water scarcity issues and also the methods to reduce their demands will have a far better impact than foreign investors muscling in with a costly infrastructure project. 

The debate about the merits of both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ paths and which should be pursued in adapting to water scarcity has huge importance. While academics, scientists and policy-makers decide on the best strategy for tackling this increasing problem, it is vital people are being made aware of these issues and can work towards better water efficiency in the mean time. 

What is Water Scarcity?

Welcome to my first post! I am going to start by defining the main concepts in water scarcity and why it interests me.

The majority of you reading this take access to water for drinking, washing, and irrigating land to produce your food for granted, but this is far from the case in many places around the world. Water stress is not yet felt on a global scale, but as populations rise and usage increases, more and more regions do not have enough water. Around 1.2 billion people, or almost one-fifth of the world’s population, live in areas of physical scarcity, with a further 500 million approaching this situation (UN Water). With climate change, it is predicted that by 2025, almost two-thirds of the world will live under conditions of high water stress (FAO). 

Hydrologists assess water scarcity by looking at the population-water equation. Areas are regarded as water stressed when annual water supplies drop below 1,700m³ per person. Water scarcity occurs when this number falls to 1,000m³ per person, and ‘absolute scarcity’ to 500m³ per person. At this point the supply or quality of water cannot meet the demands upon the resource. 

It is important to distinguish between two different types of water scarcity: Physical and Economic. Areas can be water deficient if there is limited physical water to access and use, or because due to economic, political or social constructs, access to water is limited despite it’s availability. 

I travelled to Malawi this Summer, and as well as falling in love with the country, have developed a huge interest in Africa as a whole. Two-thirds of the growing population is affected by water scarcity, hindering their quality of life and economic progress (UN Water). The African continent is the poorest in the world and due to be the most affected by climate change, so the situation is set to get worse. Africa is predominantly economically water scarce; Investments in water resources and relevant human capacity in the region are not sufficient to meet water demands (IFPRI). Adequate water supplies are crucial for development in the region, so it is hugely important leaders and policy makers are aware and understand the issue (Falkenmark). 

Over the next few months I will be focussing on how the increasing problem of water scarcity can be approached and adapted to in Africa, hopefully educating myself and readers in the process! I leave you with a video from the FAO briefly summarising water scarcity, with a few tips for what you can do to help.