By Abbas Nazil
Water scarcity is a growing crisis in Africa, with nearly 63 percent of urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to basic water and sanitation.
The situation is worsened by rapid urbanization and population growth, increasing demand for already strained water resources.
However, Africa does not have to navigate these challenges alone.
Asian nations, facing similar pressures, have successfully implemented innovative water management strategies that African countries can learn from and adopt to ensure long-term water sustainability.
As developing regions, Africa and Asia share common socioeconomic and environmental concerns, including rapid urban expansion and increasing industrialization.
These factors place immense stress on water resources, making it necessary for both regions to explore effective and sustainable water management solutions.
Experts argue that global collaboration is key to overcoming these challenges. Instead of reinventing solutions, Africa can learn from Asia’s experience, adapting tested strategies to fit local needs.
Vietnam, for instance, has tackled urban water pollution through ozone wastewater treatment.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the Saigon Water Corporation expanded a major water treatment plant, implementing the country’s first large-scale ozone treatment system.
This technology effectively removes pollutants, microorganisms, and odors without producing harmful by-products, reducing reliance on chlorine and traditional filtration.
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This approach offers African cities a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for water purification, minimizing chemical contamination in their water supply.
Thailand, struggling with rising pollution in its major rivers, adopted real-time water monitoring to address the crisis.
The government deployed smart sensors and monitoring stations across the Pa Sak River, collecting crucial data on water quality.
These insights informed new policies that significantly reduced pollution levels. Local communities, including Buddhist temple groups, were actively involved in maintaining the equipment, fostering public engagement in water conservation.
African nations facing similar river pollution issues could implement real-time monitoring systems, enabling data-driven policies to improve water management and enhance community involvement.
China, despite housing 21 percent of the global population, has only 6 percent of the world’s fresh water.
To bridge this gap, the country has embraced digital water management. Beijing Drainage Group, for example, integrated data-driven control systems to optimize aeration, chemical dosing, and drainage processes, resulting in up to 15 percent annual energy savings.
Under the government’s Digital China 2035 plan, data analytics continues to play a crucial role in improving water supply and wastewater management.
African countries could benefit from similar digital transformation initiatives, improving efficiency in urban water systems and ensuring better resource allocation.
By adopting proven water management strategies from Asia, Africa has the opportunity to leapfrog outdated methods and build a more sustainable and resilient water infrastructure.
Collaboration and innovation will be vital in securing safe and sufficient water supplies for future generations.
