URBANISATION AND WATER POLLUTION IN ADDIS ABABA

Ayenew, T. and Belliethathan, S.

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and one of the largest cities of Africa, is located at the edge of the East Africa Rift Valley. Since its establishment 130 years ago, the city has grown from a sparse and scattered settlement to 530 km2

(Alemayehu 2005). ERITREA YEMEN Áksum Gonder SUDAN Asosa Metu Gambéla Jima Awasa Goba Árba Minch’ Kibre Mengist Negélé UGANDA KENYA

In the last 50 years, the population of Addis Ababa has grown from 100 000 to 2.7 million in 2007 (Central Statistics Authority 2007), and to 3.5 million inhabitants in 2010 (UN- HABITAT 2010). Due to the growing population, the city is facing challenges in providing its residents with enough freshwater and sanitation services.

WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION

Addis Ababa is located within the Akaki River Basin, which covers an area of 11 454 km2

(Ebba 2006). There are four artificial water reservoirs in the basin, namely Legedadi, Gefersa, Dire and Aba Imí

K’ebrí Dehar

Godé SOMALIA

During its first fifty years, Addis Ababa was supplied by the Intoto springs. Due to increasing water demand a water treatment plant was built in 1938 at the foot of Intoto Ridge, and in 1944 the Gefersa Dam was built (Semie 1998). In 1970, the Legedadi Dam and treatment plant were commissioned. This was followed by the development of groundwater sources, as well as the construction of the Dire Dam.

The demand for potable water was estimated at 204 000 m3 in 1994, and this was projected to increase to 431 000 m3 1.1 million m3

/d /d and

/d in 2006 and 2020, respectively (Semie 1998). Currently the demand for water in the city exceeds supply. And the current water supply coverage is 70 per cent (AAWSA 2011 personal communication).

Addis Ababa’s sanitation coverage is low, with 13 per cent of the city’s population using flash toilets, 57 per cent using pit latrines and 30 per cent having no sanitation facilities at all (AAEPA 1999).

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Debre Mark’os

Nek’emté Desé

Debra Birhan

Addis Ababa

Diré Dawa

Jijiga Degeh Bur Mek’elé

Maych’ew Weldiya

DJIBOUTI

Samuel. With the exception of Aba Samuel, all reservoirs supply domestic and industrial water. The Aba Samuel Reservoir was constructed in the late 1930s for electricity generation, and today some of the municipal and industrial effluents are discharged into this reservoir (EPA 2005).

The city is also dependent on groundwater, supplied through springs, and shallow and deep wells. Most of the springs are found at the foot of the northern Intoto mountain range. The Akaki well located close to Aba Samuel Dam is a major water supplier for the city.