URBANISATION CHARACTERISTICS AND WATER SUPPLY
In 2001 the population of Yaoundé was estimated at 1.5 million, and growing at an annual rate of 6.8 per cent (Wéthé and others 2003). In 2005 the population had increased to about 2.2 million inhabitants, averaging 5 691 inhabitants per km2
(Nguegang
2008). Migration from rural areas to the city in search for jobs and for more suitable land for farming is partly responsible for the rapid population growth, which is also causing a rapid expansion of the city. It is estimated that Yaoundé’s urban area expanded by a factor of 4 in 20 years; from 38 km2 before growing to the current 300 km2
in 1980 to 159 km2 (Nguegang 2008).
in 2001,
Tanawa and others (2002) and Wéthé and others (2003) describe Yaoundé as made up of: • Traditional settlements characterised by less accessible housing, inadequate electrification, potable water supplies, and some basic urban services;
• Mixed or unplanned settlements, which covers 30–50 per cent of the city, and is characterised by limited accessible roads, has some optimal urban basic services such as pipe-borne water supplies, and adequate electrification and health-care services; and
• Modern settlements – constituting about 20 per cent of the city, and endowed with essential road networks, adequate pipe-borne water supply, and good electrification.
One of the most fundamental social facilities required for an expanding city is adequate supply of good quality water and in right quantities. Less than 50 per cent of households in Yaoundé have direct access to pipe-borne water. This falls to 30 per cent in suburban areas, where supply is erratic, forcing residents to use springs and wells (Leseau 1998, Nola and others 1998, Tanawa and others 2002, Kuitcha and others 2008). Irrespective of the type of settlement and financial status, the urban expansion of Yaoundé is not matched with adequate and potable pipe-borne water supply, and this has health implications on the residents. Studies by Wèthè and others (2003) indicated that 11 per cent of households suffer from diarrhoea and dysentery, while 10 per cent suffer from typhoid fever. Stagnant pools of water are favourable for breeding of the vectors that transmit malaria. Studies by Wèthè and others (2003) indicated that the disease affects an average of 35 per cent of the households in this city. These results reflect the consequences of not only lack of access to potable water in Yaoundé, but also the results of poor management of the resource.
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In comparison to the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum water consumption of 50 litres/ person/day, Yaoundé requires about 100 000 m3 is far more than the 67 250 m3
per day. This city’s water supply capacity.
The shortfall in the water supply is met by water drawn from springs, public drinking fountains and hand-dug wells (Ewodo 2009). As the gap between supply and demand continues to widen with time, springs and hand-dug wells are increasingly becoming major sources of water supply for many inhabitants in the city.
Pipe-borne water is supplied to the city’s residents by Cameroon Water Utility Corporation (CAMWATER) after undergoing a purification treatment process that includes coarse filtration, flocculation and decantation, fine filtration and chemical treatment to kill bacteria. The water supply company expects to meet demand in the future by capturing and supplying water to the city from Sanaga River that is located 100 km west of the city. Potential problems that are associated with this option are: • The long distance of supply will render pipe-borne water more expensive to a low-income society that is presently unable to afford USD 10 per month in bills; and
• The quality of the water from this river, which drains over 30 per cent of Cameroon’s surface area, is uncertain.
POLICIES AND REGULATIONS
The management of water in Cameroon is fragmented, involving many institutions. The role of these various institutions is provided for in the many laws and decrees governing water in the country. Among other things, the institutions are involved in project planning, policy formulation, pollution control, financing, and execution of water and sanitation projects. They also receive tenders, award contracts and supervise construction works.
In 1996, Cameroon enacted Law No. 96/12 to provide for environmental management. A separate law on water quality was enacted in 1998 to complement the environmental law. The law calls for the establishment of national quality standards, five yearly reviews of the National Environmental Action Plan, and the creation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Environment (Fonteh 2004). In 2005, Decree No. 2005/493 laid the procedures for the management of public drinking water and liquid sanitation in urban and suburban areas.
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