Water In Africa and How it Affects the Environment
Africa's water resources are scattered throughout the continent. While some areas receive more than enough water, others experience constant droughts. In the Horn of Africa and the Namibian Desert almost no rain falls. Meanwhile, the western part of Africa receives as much as 4,000 millimeters annually. Most of Africa is somewhere between these two extremes. Most regions receive rainfall somewhere from 200 to 800 millimeters. Droughts lasting up to five years are common in Africa. Groundwater is not always available but 15% of the continent relies on it. There are also serious concerns about the quality of the groundwater. Though approximately four trillion cubic meters of water are available every year, only about 4% of that is used. Lack of access to water is a one of the biggest problems in Africa, more so than anywhere else.
Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from chronically overburdened water systems
under increasing stress from fast-growing urban areas. Weak governments, corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor long-term investment, and a lack of environmental research and urban infrastructure only exacerbate the problem. In some cases, the disruption or contamination of water supply in urban infrastructures and rural area has caused domestic and cross- border violence. Experts say improving the quality of water and the abundance of it into economic development is necessary to end the severe problems caused by water stress, also improve public health, and doing so help prevent diseases cause obtainable by contaminated water all these things necessary to advance the economic health and stability of the region.
Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from chronically overburdened water systems
under increasing stress from fast-growing urban areas. Weak governments, corruption, mismanagement of resources, poor long-term investment, and a lack of environmental research and urban infrastructure only exacerbate the problem. In some cases, the disruption or contamination of water supply in urban infrastructures and rural area has caused domestic and cross- border violence. Experts say improving the quality of water and the abundance of it into economic development is necessary to end the severe problems caused by water stress, also improve public health, and doing so help prevent diseases cause obtainable by contaminated water all these things necessary to advance the economic health and stability of the region.