1. Introduction:
Somalia is a country located in Africa that is distressed by a water crisis. Safe and drinkable water is one of the most difficult commodities in Somalia. People have to travel long distances to acquire water and even then, water they secure may be extensively contaminated.
According to UNICEF, only 45% of Somalis have access to water sources but this is exarcerbatedc by the third consecutive year of poor rain forecast as highlighted by Graham (2018).
This report will focus on analyzing solutions to supply water in Somalia and recommend the best method of water provision by comparing the cost and environment. Solutions include constructing sand dams and water treatment systems.
2. Background:
Somalia’s GDP was 6.22 billion USD for 2016 (Trading Economics, 2016), with a poverty rate of 73% (UNDP, 2016) and is one of the least developed countries in Sub Saharan Africa (Pape, 2016).
Figure 1: Locator Map of Somalia
Source: Word Atlas, 2018.
Figure 1 shows that Somalia lies on the east of Africa which covers 627,337 square kilometers of land and 10,320 square kilometers of water (World Atlas, 2018). It has the longest coastline on Africa’s mainland. Its terrain consists of flat savannas, highlands and semi-deserts.
Figure 2: Climate Graph of Berbera, Somalia.
Source: ClimaTemps, no date
Climatically, dry and hot conditions prevail year-round, with erratic rainfall (Janzen, J.et al., 2018). According to Figure 2, the temperature of Somalia ranges from 25 to 40 degree Celsius. Therefore, Somalia is prone to scarce precipitation where rainfall is about 2 inches per year (Climates to Travel, no date) and dry seasons.
Somalia is currently in the midst of a drought and has gone without rain for 3 years consecutively from 2016. Water sources such as boreholes and water wells have dried up, complicating the water shortage. (Action Against Hunger, 2018). In a country where 7 in 10 people depend of animals or crops for their livelihood, livestock have died in unprecedented numbers and crops have perished. Half the population of Somalia is undernourished and susceptible to waterborne diseases (Mordaunt, 2018). A state of emergency has been declared by Somalia as over 6 million people (more than half the population) are food and water insecure and famine will soon plague the country (Mckenzie, 2018).
3. Options:
1. Construction of sand dam
A sand dam is a fortified wall built across a seasonal sandy river by cement and debris that conserve rainwater and recharges groundwater (The Water Project, no date). They are generally easy to build, low-cost, and requires low maintenance technology. Sand dams appears to be the most cost-effective method of water conservation in dry environments. They store up to 40 million litres of water and provide a year-round supply for up to 1,200 people. Operation and maintenance costs are low and even conceivably zero. Sand dams stockpile water under sand, protecting it from contamination, evaporation and parasites (Excellent Development, no date). Sand dams generally provide a rural community with water yearlong and may even allow shallow wells to be built, increasing water provision in the area- during dry seasons.
2. Water reclamation
Water reclamation is a process whereby waste water is treated and reused again. Water recycling arguably enables a region to be self-dependent and have control of their own water supply. In addition, energy might be saved if extraction, treatment and transportation of ground water requires a lot of energy. EPA (no date) highlights that water recycling can decrease the usage of water from sensitive ecosystems, wastewater discharge and pollution. Furthermore, treated wastewater are possibly just as good or even better than tap water in any developed cities (Braga, 2015). However, this process may be unwelcomed by the public as people are often skeptical of the cleanliness of sewage water. Educational campaigns often have to be coordinated to allay the fears of public and raise awareness, adding on to the cost of water reclamation.
Comparison of Options
Cost
Construction of a sand dam is believed to be more economical than a water treatment plant. A sand dam that lasts for 50 year costs USD 7500 to build and materials can be locally sourced (The Water Project, no date). On the contrary, construction of a water treatment plant costs above 1 billion USD which may put a strain on the government’s budget. The high cost is usually due to specific equipment needed, manpower required and the shipping fee from overseas (Samco, 2017).
Between the two, constructing and maintaining the sand dam would be the more cost-efficient solution as it does not require as much electricity. The reason is that Somalia depends on imported petroleum for the production of its electric energy by private firms and the cost of electricity in Somalia is amongst the most expensive in the world (Mohamed, 2016). For example, per metre cube of water produced, reclaiming water uses up 1.046 kWh whereas a sand dam requires very little energy, possibly none (The Water Project, no date). However, if Somalia invests in the usage of renewable energy, operational costs can prove to be cost effective.
Environment
Water reclamation often proves to be a more environmentally-friendly option compared to the construction of sand dam. International Rivers (no date) asserts that sand dams may obstruct fish migration, disrupting food chains. Moreover, sand dams may trap sediments which may be consequential for maintaining physical processes and downstream habitats. Comparatively, water reclamation may help protect the environment. EPA (no date) contends that water recycling can reduce the diversion of water from sensitive ecosystem, reduce wastewater discharge and prevent pollution. The habitats of marine organisms especially the endangered creatures can then be safeguarded. Research indicates that less pollutants are discharged into the environment and the usage of reclaimed water may even prove to be beneficial if used in agricultural irrigation as it provides an additional source of nutrients.
Conclusion and recommendation
For drought-ridden Somalia, water reclamation using renewable energy sources such as solar energy may provide a sustainable way to generate water. It may become more cost efficient due to increasing petrol costs and declining costs of renewable energy. Although the cost of sand dam is comparatively cheaper, constructing a sand dam in Somalia may prove futile due to the ongoing drought. Furthermore, Somalia is dependent on their beaches and natural landscapes for tourism and hence, conserving the environment is a paramount concern for the government. Hence, water reclamation suggests that it may be the best solution to preserve the physical landscape of Somalia and distribute water to its people.
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