How Much Water is Under the African Continent?
Africa has a reputation of being an extremely dry continent. After all, 300 million people in Africa don’t have regular access to clean and safe drinking water, so that must be the case. Not necessarily. The problem is that Africa has untapped resources, all of which are underground.
In 2012, the British Geological Survey published a report that indicated that Africa has vast underground reserves of water spread throughout the continent, even under the Sahara Desert. These aquifers hold an estimated 660,000 cubic kilometers of water, more than 100 times more than what is currently available through renewable sources such as lakes and rivers. However, little to nothing has been done in the intervening years to tap into this potent resource.
Africa’s Sad Heritage
Unlike their counterparts in Great Britain and the rest of Europe, Americans are largely unaware of the problems faced daily by Africans, unless they are somehow directly involved in relief efforts through missions or other volunteer organizations. A 2017 poll conducted by the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian relief organization, indicated that 80 percent of Americans were unaware that hunger is widespread in Africa, and with it access to clean water. When faced with this information, though, most believed that it is their moral duty to provide help in some form. Millenials were especially keen to do so.
Other Inherent Problems
One of the biggest obstacles Africans face with their current sources of fresh water is that many of the rivers and lakes are located within more than one country. The problem is generally more prevalent with rivers as governments controlling headwater usually have more say so in usage. Some large lakes also have these problems too when their boundaries pass through several countries. Compounding this problem is the fact that most bodies of fresh water in Africa are also polluted or otherwise contaminated.
The infrastructure needed to bring clean water to many Africans simply isn’t available. Rural electrification is limited, which means that many areas are not attractive to politically motivated energy subsidies that could make water access affordable for small farmers. In addition, most African governments simply don’t have the money to build the necessary infrastructure to bring water to areas where it is most needed.
The water table across Africa continues to recede annually. Capetown, South Africa is facing the possibility of turning off water taps to four million people and rationing potable water as a result of overdevelopment, population growth and climate change.
Why the World Needs to Be Concerned
The weather and atmospheric conditions in Africa are not conducive to regular supplies of fresh water. Worldwide climate change is making matters worse. Capetown isn’t the only large city facing water shortages as Melbourne, Australia, Mexico City, Jakarta, Indonesia and Sao Paolo either have or are currently experiencing water crises.
Political miscalculations on climate change, including the denial of the current U.S. government that climate change is occurring despite scientific evidence, put the entire world at risk for water shortage. According to Geoff Dabelko, Ohio University’s Environmental Studies Program Director, an overriding concern of the next 10 years will be how well world institutions deal with the increased rate of climate change.
If you think the African situation can’t happen here, think again. Research from Michigan State University notes that by 2020, nearly 41 million households in the United States may not be able to afford to pay for clean drinking water. Accessing the African aquifers in an economical manner may prove crucial to the future of clean drinking water in the United States in the not too distant future.
