Water Projects in Africa

Water is essential to human life; however, millions of people worldwide do not have clean, accessible water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and other routine tasks.¹ Clean water is essential, but it can be a luxury for millions of people experiencing poverty. Water stress is critical throughout Africa.

Water projects in Africa can offer life-saving interventions for individuals, families and entire communities. Water is a crucial and rare resource throughout this continent due to limited water sources, extreme heat and drought, limited water infrastructure and contaminated water sources.

Insufficient water sources

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• Drought — Africa’s proximity to the equator produces extreme heat and dry climates; Many countries in Africa experiences less than 1,000 millimeters of rain annually.² Minimal rainfall creates severe drought that causes the soil to turn to dirt and dust that is inhospitable for growing crops. Surface water in ponds, lakes and rivers dry up, causing livestock to die from dehydration and malnutrition. Drought in Africa causes widespread dehydration and malnutrition.³ Most countries in Africa do not have enough rainfall to nurture the plants, animals or people.
• Population — About 1.3 billion people reside in Africa; it is a densely populated continent.⁴ However, most countries in Africa do not have sufficient food, water or other resources to support their populations. Limited water sources like wells and lakes are frequently overused. The population of Africa continues to rise rapidly, but most African countries do not have the financial resources or water infrastructure to support the needs of their growing populations.³

Contaminated water sources

Out of necessity, many people throughout Africa collect and use surface water from lakes, ponds, rivers or other still bodies of water. However, unfiltered and untreated water contains harmful pollutants.

• Diseases — Contaminated water can harbor waterborne diseases like E. coli, dysentery, cholera and rotavirus. These diseases cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and even death. Contaminated water can also contain parasites or mosquitoes that transmit malaria or dengue fever. The World Health Organization estimates that “829,000 people die each year from diarrhea because of unsafe drinking-water, sanitation, and hand hygiene.”⁵ Death caused by contaminated water is heartbreaking.
• Chemicals — Pesticides, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, drugs and other chemicals can pollute water sources. Water sources near small or industrial farms, factories or mines can introduce harmful chemicals and waste to water.
• Natural elements — Groundwater frequently contains arsenic and lead, naturally occurring in rocks and sediment. Arsenic and lead are also byproducts of human industry like mining or manufacturing, and arsenic is present in some fertilizers used for agriculture. High levels of arsenic can cause arsenicosis—arsenic poisoning—which results in nausea, vomiting, skin changes and more.⁶ Consistent exposure to lead generates build up in the human body and can result in lead poisoning. Lead poisoning causes many concerning symptoms, but it predominantly affects brain function.⁷ Chemicals like arsenic and lead are toxic to humans; long-term exposure to either chemical can cause serious health concerns and even death.  

Contaminated water causes persistent sickness and even death; water treatment and sanitation are vital to community health. Clean water projects in Africa provide life-giving solutions for people using contaminated water or living without enough water.