African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

African Water Development Report 2006ter extraction for various uses in the continent,freshwater resources seem to be dwindling dueto various factors, including:(a) Population growth incommensurate witheconomic growth;(b) Uneven distribution of rainfall over thecontinent in both space and time;(c) Diminishing natural humidity due to climaticvariability and, possibly, the influenceof climate change;(d) Depletion of groundwater aquifers due touncontrolled use; and(e) Pollution of both surface and groundwaterbodies.The growing demand by socio-economic development,population pressure and fragmentedwater resources development are paving the wayto very serious environmental problems, suchas deforestation, land (soil) degradation, waterresource degradation, unsustainable use of landand water resources and loss of biological diversity.These processes, which go almost unnoticedin most African countries, are already posingchallenges to the management of water resourcesin the continent and to meeting the competingdemands for basic water supply and sanitation,food security, economic development and environmentalprotection. Thus, as the economicperformance of African nations improve, morewealth is created and the pace of urbanizationquickens, making it difficult for the administrativeauthorities in most urban centres to matchthe population growth with commensurate urbanplanning regulations, affordable housingpolicies and the provision of safe water supplyand decent sanitation facilities. Also, many newmigrants attracted by this urbanization are unableto pay amounts quoted as rent, not to mentionthe bloated rent advances demanded whichcan be as high as two years rent and so make dowith any available space, resulting in the growthof urban slums. Very few Governments in Africarecognise the critical situation of these unplannedurban settlements whose rate of propagationis highest in sub-Saharan Africa where itis estimated at 71.9 per cent. With the necessarypolitical will, the urban poor can be catered forwith water and revenue resources retrieved fromthe very high unaccounted-for-water being lostin urban water supply systems of African cities,estimated at about 50 per cent. After all, it isnow well established that the urban poor paymore for water and sanitation services than theaffluent urban residents to whom most of thegovernment subsidies go.The link between water and agricultural/foodproduction does not need explanation, and theproblem of food security in Africa has becomechronic, especially in the eastern and southernsubregions. Acute and chronic under-nutritionand most micronutrient deficiencies primarilyaffect the poor and deprived people who lackadequate food, live in unsanitary environments,lack access to sufficient and clean water and basicservices and lack access to appropriate educationand information. Increased and diversified productionof food for family consumption or as asource of income is therefore a basic prerequisitefor improved household food security. In thissituation of food scarcity, agricultural productionin Africa is still far below the potential resourcesavailable in terms of land use and application ofirrigation to enhance production.The importance of water as a vital source of energyis well known, especially in the field of hydroelectricityproduction and the development ofthis form of energy will go a long way in reducingAfrica’s energy needs. Currently, Africa isthe world’s leading consumer of biomass energywhich accounts for as much as two thirds of thecontinent’s total energy consumption. Firewoodis the most common and environmentally detrimentalbiomass energy source, accounting forabout 65 per cent of biomass use. The smoke generatedin the use of fuelwood for cooking causesindoor pollution which negatively affects health,particularly, of women and children. Hydroelectriccapacity accounts for about 22 per cent ofthe total electricity-generation capacity in Africaand represents the primary source of electricity368