Building climate change impacts and adaptations into Water Safety Plans for low income communities in African citiesAlison Parker, Tom Heath, Keith Weatherhead

“Stronger service providers, better services for all”

Introduction

Naivasha

Lusaka

Antananarivo

Aim•Assess impacts of climate change on water and sanitation•Recommend adaptations

Reviewing climate change impacts on African urban communities

UNDP climate brief National Adaption Programme of Action(required by UNFCCC)

Deriving scenarios

Worst cases:•Increased rainfall and rainfall intensity•Decreased rainfall and rainfall intensity

Field assessment

Understanding current climate vulnerabilities•Key stakeholder interviews•Community observations•Focus group interviews

Recommend adaptations

Example: Kanyama, Lusaka, ZambiaWorst case scenario: Increasing rainfall → Flooding

•Natural floodplain•Unplanned settlement

200m

Worst case scenario: Increasing rainfall → Flooding•Natural floodplain•Unplanned settlement•Shallow bedrock

Example: Kanyama, Lusaka, Zambia

Worst case scenario: Increasing rainfall → Flooding•Natural floodplain•Unplanned settlement•Shallow bedrock•Overflowing latrines

Adaptations:•Clearing and expanding drains•Emptying latrines•Elevated latrines

Example: Kanyama, Lusaka, Zambia

Uncertainties in climate change impacts on African urban communities

Areas at risk of flooding Areas at risk of water shortages

Increased rainfall

Decreased rainfall

Positive impacts

Positive impacts

Negative impacts

Negative impacts

Easy to define from field work

Uncertainties in current

models

Impact of increased rainfall

•Flooding Kanyama, Lusaka

Impact of increased rainfall

•Flooding•Damage to water kiosks, pipes and houses

Kanyama, Lusaka Kanyama, Lusaka

Impact of increased rainfall

•Flooding•Damage to water kiosks, pipes and houses•Overflowing latrines

•Increases exposure to pathogens•Contaminates unimproved water supplies

Kanyama, Lusaka

Impact of increased rainfall

•Flooding•Damage to water kiosks, pipes and houses•Overflowing latrines

•Increases exposure to pathogens•Contaminates unimproved water supplies

•Increased run off•Increases sediment load in intake water•Damages infrastructure

Karagita, Naivasha

Impact of increased rainfall

•Flooding•Damage to water kiosks, pipes and houses•Overflowing latrines

•Increases exposure to pathogens•Contaminates unimproved water supplies

•Increased run off•Increases sediment load in intake water•Damages infrastructure

•Increased water for irrigationAntananarivo

Impact of increased rainfall

•Flooding•Damage to water kiosks, pipes and houses•Overflowing latrines

•Increases exposure to pathogens•Contaminates unimproved water supplies

•Increased run off•Increases sediment load in intake water•Damages infrastructure

•Increased water for irrigation•Increased potential for rainwater harvesting

Impact of decreased rainfall

•Lower water table•Water scarcity for both piped water and unimproved source users

•Increased demand for piped supplies and lower water pressures

•Long queues at kiosks•Decreased hydroelectricity available for pumping•Reduced greywater problems Kanyama, Lusaka

Indirect climate change impacts on African urban communities

Migration to urban areas

Crop failure

Reduced employment

Reduced ability to pay for water and sanitation

Increased food prices

Increased water conflict

Adaptations to floodingLocal operators•Community education

•Hygiene during floods•Flood-proof latrine construction (e.g. elevated designs)

Kanyama, Lusaka

Adaptations to floodingLocal operatorsCommunity education

•Hygiene during floods•Flood-proof latrine construction (e.g. elevated designs)

•Sanitary protection of boreholes against floods

Kanyama, Lusaka

Adaptations to floodingLocal operators•Community education

•Hygiene during floods•Flood-proof latrine construction (e.g. elevated designs)

•Sanitary protection of boreholes against floods•Chlorination of water supply during floods

Chazanga, Lusaka

Adaptations to floodingLocal operators•Community education

•Hygiene during floods•Flood-proof latrine construction (e.g. elevated designs)

•Sanitary protection of boreholes against floods•Chlorination of water supply during floods

Water utility•NRW reduction•Increased water quality monitoring and infrastructure inspection during floods

Adaptations to floodingMunicipality•Improve drainage system

CUA, Antananarivo

Adaptations to floodingMunicipality•Improve drainage system•Improve solid waste collection

Kamere, Naivasha

Adaptations to floodingMunicipality•Improve drainage system•Improve solid waste collection•Improve sludge collection

Adaptations to water shortages

Local operators•Ensure water supply is affordable•Expand kiosk network into unserved areas•Investigate alternative supplies•Community education about health risks during droughts

Mirera, Naivasha

Adaptations to water shortages

Local operators•Ensure water supply is affordable•Expand kiosk network into unserved areas•Investigate alternative supplies•Community education about health risks during droughts

Utility•Support network expansion•Build more storage tanks

Chazanga, Lusaka

Adaptations to water shortages

Local operators•Ensure water supply is affordable•Expand kiosk network into unserved areas•Investigate alternative supplies•Community education about health risks during droughts

Utility•Support network expansion•Build more storage tanks

Municipality•Engage in water allocation dialogues

Climate change awareness

Climate change awareness

CommunityLocal operatorsWater Utility

MunicipalityConsultants

GovernmentNGOsAcademics

Climate change adaptation in action

Climate change plans

CommunityLocal operatorsWater UtilityGovernmentConsultants

MunicipalityNGOs

Academics

Climate change impacts on African urban communities: conclusions

Flooding > water shortages8 / 11 communities 4 / 11 communities

Adaptations: accelerate existing water management improvements, not new actions

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