The challenges of sustainable urban drainage in developing countries
Neil Armitage
Corresponding Author: Neil.Armitage@uct.ac.za
Urban Water Management Group
University of Cape Town
South Africa
SWITCH c/o Loughborough University - p p 132 - 144
Abstract :
The majority of the world’s population lives in so-called “developing” countries – many of them living in dire conditions in the slums to be found in most major towns and cities. A particular problem associated with these slums is poor drainage resulting in ongoing contact with contaminated water and flooding. It has been estimated that the total world population without improved sanitation in 2015 will be a massive 2.4 billion. Whilst not all sanitation need be water-borne, the need to cater for greywater (domestic wastewater) in addition to stormwater in high density urban areas makes it important that more serious consideration be given to providing adequate drainage. Unfortunately, drainage is not even one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
There are a number of texts on the subject of urban drainage in developed countries. A weakness with most of them though, is the general failure to look at the problem of urban water management in a holistic manner. For example, the failure to comprehend that every drop of water brought into an informal settlement has to be safely removed otherwise it becomes a health threat. Also, insufficient attention has been paid by engineers to the debilitating impact of weak social and institutional structures.
This paper summarises observations made by the author who has been trying to understand and deal with the challenge of providing sustainable urban drainage in the informal settlements of South Africa over a period of more than ten years. Whilst South Africa is not a typical developing country, its informal settlements have many features in common with those elsewhere in the developing world. The author sees the lack of sustainable urban drainage in informal settlements as a consequence of the failure of local government to provide appropriately serviced sites for the multitudes streaming into the towns and cities; however, he ascribes this failure mainly to the lack of adequate numbers of skilled personnel who are able to plan and implement urban drainage in a timeous and holistic manner – coupled with the lack of funding needed to pay for the work. Some suggestions are made as to how developed countries can assist; principally through professional support and the encouragement of NGOs.
Keywords: sustainable urban drainage, developing countries, local government, NGOs
1. Introduction :
The majority of the world’s population lives in the so-called “developing” countries – many of them living in dire conditions in the slums to be found in most towns and cities. A particular problem associated with these slums is poor drainage. Many slums are informal settlements that have come about through land invasion and lack proper planning. Slums arise through a combination of: rapid population growth (both through high birth rates as well as large inmigration), weak local government (resulting in inadequate planning and management), insufficient investment (perhaps a consequence of a small tax base or/or high levels of corruption) and a lack of skilled personnel (both professional as well as maintenance). It is of concern that whilst the world is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target on drinking water, it does not look set to meet the target on sanitation (to halve the number of people without access). Based on current trends, the total world population without improved sanitation in 2015 will still be a massive 2.4 billion (WHO, 2008). Whilst not all sanitation need be water-borne, the need to cater for greywater (domestic wastewater) in addition to stormwater in high density urban areas makes it important that more serious consideration be given to providing adequate drainage. No MDG target has yet been set for drainage; it is apparently not acknowledged to be a problem.
There are a number of texts on the subject of urban drainage in developing countries. Some of the more useful include: Pickford (1995), Mara (1996), Kolsky (1998), Parkinson & Mark (2005) and Parkinson et al. (2007). A general weakness, though, is the failure to see the problem of urban water management in a holistic manner. For example, in the texts just listed, Pickford (1995) and Mara (1996) focus almost exclusively on sanitation and sewerage, whilst Kolsky (1998), Parkinson & Mark (2005) and Parkinson et al. (2007) focus almost exclusively on stormwater drainage – although, to be fair, Parkinson & Mark (2005) do at least acknowledge the importance of “Stakeholder participation and partnerships” and devote a chapter to “Policies and institutional frameworks”.
In an similar vein, whilst much has been published in connection with the water supply and sanitation (WATSAN) and even water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) – a common theme of the WEDC Conferences for example – this is mostly focused on the provision of small quantities of potable water and so-called “dry” sanitation (doesn’t use water in its operation), whilst virtually nothing is ever said about drainage. This might be understandable in the context of small rural communities, however many high-density unplanned slums are to be found situated on marginal land vulnerable to flooding. The failure, for example, to comprehend that every drop of water brought into an informal settlement has to be safely removed otherwise it becomes a drainage problem and thus a possible health threat borders on criminal.
Insufficient attention has been paid by almost all engineers to the debilitating impact of weak social and institutional structures.
This paper focuses on observations made by the author who has been trying to understand and deal with the challenge of providing sustainable urban drainage in the informal settlements of South Africa over a period of more than ten years. Whilst South Africa is not a typical developing country, its informal settlements have many features in common with those elsewhere in the developing world.
Full Text : Click Here
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق