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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