High hopes for rainwater harvesting

Many African countries could get enough clean water to meet their people’s needs many times over - just by harvesting the rain. That’s the claim made in a new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Agroforestry Center. Ethiopia, for example, has 75 million people - and a potential rainwater harvest equivalent to the needs of over 520 million. The equation is similar in Kenya - where there are encouraging signs of official policy catching on to this simple, low-cost and effective approach. A successful pilot project in Kisamese, near Nairobi, is saving local women a 10km daily trek to the river - and the water minister announced last November that all new buildings must include rainwater collection and storage measures. - Giovanna Dunmall

 

11 January 2007