Impact and adaptation to flooding: A focus on water supply, sanitation, and health in rural communities on the Barotse floodplain in Zambia

Abstract

Globally it is recognised that climate change impact is manifested through severe weather events that cause, for example, flooding. Floods have large social consequences for communities and individuals. This paper investigates the impact of flooding on water supply and sanitation conditions together with flood-induced health problems on the Barotse floodplain in Zambia. The study also explored rural response measures and adaptation strategies. This study relied on intensive field investigation in May 2021 where 99 households from different villages in the floodplain were randomly sampled to participate in a questionnaire survey. Key informants, including government officials from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Local Government and Housing, were also interviewed. The findings showed that water supply and sanitation conditions are severely interrupted during flood periods, and this leads to various waterborne diseases. The findings further revealed that all pit latrines in the study area become submerged and therefore unsafe to use. Adaptation measures include boiling water before use and water disinfection using chlorine. Other, adaptive measures noted in the study area include open water defecation due to inundation of toilets, which further contaminates drinking water supplies.Based on the findings, the researchers propose that the government and other stakeholders should prioritise flood-proof water and sanitation facilities in the study area in order to improve the health of the rural community during floods.