Global Challenges & Solutions: Getting Clean Drinking Water in Kenya, Africa 2018
Here’s an alarming fact: Today about 60% of the Nairobi residents no longer have access to clean drinking water… this percentage will continue to increase if we don’t act NOW.
If you have been following the global news, you might already know that the capital of Kenya Nairobi is on the verge of a dangerous water crisis.
The city, which hosts about 3.4 million people, has been implementing water saving measures since January 1, 2017 but this efforts on behalf of the local community have not been able to meet the high level of demand for clean drinking water.
As a result, 41% of Kenyans still rely on unimproved water sources, such as ponds, shallow wells and rivers. At the same time, 59% of Kenyans use unimproved sanitation solutions. These conditions cause many epidemics in the country.
Cause — Effect
The water problems in Nairobi are largely due to two consecutive, extremely dry, “rainy” seasons. The precipitation from October to December 2016 was only 26.5 cm, compared to the expected 70 cm. The rains have been scarce (about three times lower than the expectations for the traditionally rainy months — March to May).
Not only is finding clean water a problem in many areas (some African citizens including children, have to walk an average of 6 kilometres to find clean drinking water) , but access to any water supply is often impractical.
Local and international organisations have tried to provide sustainable clean water solutions to Kenya: some of their projects have already been successfully implemented.
“Nairobi was once a swamp, but it no longer is” share the locals. An engineer from an Nairobi water company claims that the Nairobi underground rivers are dry that’s why the water companies now deliver water to the city that is less than half its volume.
Solution
Experts have ideas on how to solve the problem. Some of the suggested measures include rainwater collection in buildings, deliberate efforts to recharge groundwater and pumping treated waste water back into the ground.
They also share that some of the most important decisions that need to be made are actually related to soil and water conservation, which takes an important role in solving the issue.
The Nairobi city administration is considering providing incentives to encourage farmers to work against causing more erosion in the region.
How can YOU help?
There’re already organisations that have been largely involved in helping Kenya prevent a water crisis.
One of the more prominent actors on the ground is the humanitarian organisation Save The Mothers Trust.
Save The Mothers Trust has recently launched the World of Water project, which is aimed at raising funds to provide clean drinking water for disadvantaged families in Africa and Asia.
It’s expected that this program should improve the living conditions of many families in Kenya too, by contributing to better drinking water systems and modern healthcare facilities.
You can find more information by visiting https://smtrust.org.uk/our-projects/world-water.
Save The Mothers Trust (SMT) charity efforts include implementing water purification projects, excavating wells, mobilizing the local community and raising awareness of the issue worldwide.
If YOU want to contribute to their fundraising campaigns, you can donate as little as £3.00 or opt for the Gift Aid option, increasing the value of your donations by 25% at no additional costs.
The aim of the organisation is to provide emergency relief with long term aftercare by setting up life sustaining projects, especially in those areas that don’t get very much media coverage.
Hopes For The Future
By working with local communities and other international organisations Save The Mothers Trust have increased the water supply in Nairobi by 27,000 cubic meters per day.
Clean Drinking water activists don’t lose hope that the situation will get better soon. Organisations like The Mothers Trust show that there is a growing will and large community of activists who are transforming the situation for good by attracting donations and investment to this cause.
Become a part of this community today!
