Worldwide Water Issues: Africa and Florida

The third and last in our series on Worldwide Water Issues – real problems in real places.

While the global picture for water management is far from encouraging, that of Africa is much worse.  300 million Africans do not have access to safe water. The inability to be able to obtain clean water, and the illnesses that result from poor sanitation, keep people poor.

This year an outbreak of cholera in the neighboring West African countries of Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger has infected nearly 4,000 people and killed more than 260 others since May 2010. The UN health agency blames the epidemic on poor hygiene and inadequate access to clean water. Sadly, cholera is easily preventable with the proper sanitation and clean water, but these basic things are not available in many West African villages.

Creating clean & safe water supplies may be aggravated by several new threats, including climate change, the negative fallout from military conflicts and boundary disputes. An example of this last problem affects Egypt, which gets almost all of their fresh water from the Nile. The country would be a scarcely habitable desert without the Nile’s water, but recently most of the countries that occupy the Nile’s headwaters signed an agreement granting them greater control of the river and removing a colonial-era veto, held by Egypt for more than 50 years. Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have all signed this new agreement, made necessary by their rapid population growth.  Farmers in northern Egypt protested the lack of water, but their water shortages garner little sympathy from a country such as Ethiopia, where millions face drought and famine. Ethiopia has the necessary resources to build the infrastructure and dams it wants on the Nile water. The only positive way forward is to for the “Nile countries” to pursue unilateral water development projects.

Meanwhile, Africa has seemingly abundant water resources that are not being efficiently utilized. With 17 large rivers and more than 160 major lakes, Africa only uses about 4 per cent of its total annual renewable water resources for agriculture, industry and domestic purposes. The challenge lies in getting water to where it is needed most, affordably and efficiently.

While some governments hide behind the lack of money, some expert’s say how the money is being spent is not effective. Many governments deal with the provision of water and sanitation as a single, separate entity rather than part of a broad development agenda encompassing education, women's empowerment, community participation, nurturing efficient markets and building human resources. This is because government officials often do not consider water to be an engine for economic development, Sanitation is a very local, household and individual issue, yet too often solutions are being implemented from a top-down government approach, without involving people. However, communal action can not be a substitute for effective public policy. While NGOs like FAWCO can support local efforts, the commitment to creating an infrastructure for clean water and sanitation is a governmental requirement.

Florida and Water Restrictions

Parts of Florida, including much of Central, South and Southwest Florida, are currently experiencing drought conditions. Bordered by two oceans, Florida has the longest coastline in the continental United States, Lake Okeechobee and 50,000 miles of rivers, streams and waterways. ‘Our waters define our state.’ Yet, with all that water, Florida is still susceptible to drought! Records show that 2006 and 2007 were the driest back-to-back calendar years Florida has experienced, based on data dating back to 1932.

By 2025, Florida is expected to need an additional two billion gallons of water each day!  According to the National Drought Monitor, approximately 20% of Florida is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions as of January 1st, 2008.  The drought has been most pronounced in southwest Florida and the Kissimmee River watershed.  As a result, the average elevation of Lake Okeechobee has remained at or near daily record low levels since last spring and is currently more than 4 feet below the historical average elevation for mid-January. Stream flows are below normal across much of Florida. Moderate La Nina conditions in the equatorial Pacific are expected to intensify the drought in Florida during the winter and spring months.  The recent freeze in central Florida has increased the wildfire threat since significant rainfall has been confined to the Florida panhandle counties.

Water restrictions were initially declared in January 2007 and apply to water supplied by utilities, private wells and surface water sources. As of February 2010, the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District extended severe water shortage restrictions through June 2010 and year-round water conservation measures went into effect on July 1, 2010. There is even a ‘water restrictions hotline’ for questions (and to report a neighbor’s infraction??). Some examples:

Lawn and landscape watering:

• Lawn and landscape watering was limited to a once-per-week schedule, 2x per week is now allowed.
• Even addresses may water on Thursday and/or Sunday, Odd addresses on Wednesday and/or Saturday: both before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
• New lawns and plants have a 30-30 establishment period, which allows any-day watering during the first 30 days; during the second 30 days, watering is allowed three days per week.
• Low-volume watering (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering, etc.) of flower beds, shrubs and other non-lawn plants is generally allowed on any day and at any time, if needed.

Other general restrictions:

• Follow applicable best management practices, including watering times and applications.
• Comply with all Water Use Permit conditions, including allowable drought quantities.
• Reduce off-site discharge and mobile equipment washing.
• Fountains and other aesthetic-only water features may only operate 8 hours per day; hours of operation must be posted. However, small indoor and backyard fountains may operate at any time.
• Car washing is limited to once per week; however, fundraiser events are still allowed. Car washing at residential properties is only allowed on certain days: even-numbered addresses may wash only on Tuesday or Saturday; odd-numbered addresses may wash only on Wednesday or Sunday.

Whether you live in Africa or America, Water can not be used with reckless abandon! Our goal must be to become more responsible water users ourselves and to help others have access to a safe and sustainable source of this often forgotten, but essential resource.

Water Team members: Clarice Scott (AWC Denmark), Cynthia Smith-Ayed (AIWC Casablanca), Anne van Oorschot (AWC The Hague)