Covid19 pandemic as a further driver of water scarcity in Africa

Abstract

Population growth, even if coupled to economic growth, and resources, were already on a collision course, especially in Africa. The 2019 United Nations World Water Development Report provided a dramatic status of world water, however without questioning the main drivers of an imminent water crisis, that were unbounded, unequal, economic, and population growth, within the context of reducing resources in a finite world. Despite the report was a small step forward in awareness, still, it was not proposing satisfactory remedies. With business-asusual, without acting on the drivers of water scarcity, regional water crises were inevitable in the next 3 decades, starting from Africa. Constrained by political, financial, and energy burdens, the technological improvements that have helped humanity to deal with the increased demand for water, food, and energy over the last 70 years, were likely not enough to avoid the water crisis. On top of forecast is the Covid19 pandemic. Coronavirus cases are (August 4, 2020) 18,446,065 and fatalities are 697,202 worldwide, and still growing. The containment measures enforced for Covid19 infection following the examples in the United Kingdom have already produced significant damage to the world economy. This will limit social expenditures in general, and the expenditures for the water issue in particular. The water crisis will consequently become worse in the next months, with consequences still difficult to predict. This will be true especially for Africa, where the main problem has always been poverty. There is the opportunity of significant health, food, and water crisis, especially in Africa. While the concepts of washing hands and social distancing that are difficult to apply haven't produce so far major issues with the Covid19 outbreak in Africa, borders closure, restrictions on movement, and more poverty will translate in a lack of food and water potentially much more worrying than the virus spreading. Keywords Water scarcity Á Energy availability Á Global economy Á Governance change Á Technological advances Á Food challenge Á Covid19

Water and Wastewater Systems and Utilities: Challenges and Opportunities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Beyond the need of water for washing hands, COVID-19 will impact water scarcity through complex mechanisms of economy and poverty. Containment strategies that rely on lockdowns and reduce the financial means of households will tragically impact the water and food security of households in developing and water-scarce localities (Boretti 2020). For example, small Pacific islands are isolated from virus transmission, but have been affected by supply issues due to shutdowns that have closed economic opportunities, leading to further loss of income and water insecurity for households (Daniell 2020).…”

Spatial analysis of socio‐economic factors and their relationship with the cases of COVID‐19 in Pernambuco, Brazil

“…Water scarcity is recognised in part of the study area, where arid and semi‐arid ecosystems predominate [ 45 ], especially in the Sertão Pernambucano and Sertão do São Francisco mesoregions. Thus water scarcity not only influences hygiene but indirectly also the economy, poverty, freedom of movement and inequality [ 46 ].…”

COVID-19 and organisational resilience in Brazil's water sector

“…COVID-19 has also exacerbated the effects of water scarcity, as access to water supply is essential to enable handwashing and proper hygiene. Several studies from other countries have reported that the pandemic has increased pressure on already strained water supply systems ( Boretti, 2020 ; Feizizadeh et al, 2021 ; Lawson et al, 2022 ). All the aforementioned issues may expose both water and wastewater sectors to pre-existing challenges such as ageing and insufficient infrastructure, outdated technology and poor maintenance and management ( ARUP, 2016 ; Stepping, 2016 ).…”