106 The Future of Water in African Cities
Poor access to improved sanitation in Douala creates large health risks for the population. The 2004 WHO burden of disease report indicated that diarrheal diseases caused by lack of sanitation and hygiene led to 18,300 deaths per year in Cameroon, and accounted for 13.4 percent of the burden of disease in the country (WHO, 2008). According to the 2010 data for the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program, access to improved sanitation in urban areas in Cameroon was 58 percent (WHO/ UNICEF, 2010). In Douala, cholera is endemic and coordinated action is needed to reduce and eliminate the incidence of cholera. Wastewater and solid waste management services do not cover the whole city. The only sewerage in Douala is a six-kilometer stretch constructed before independence and that ceased operations long ago. The stormwater drainage network in Douala—that de facto serves as an open sewer—is not complete and not well maintained. The drains are regularly blocked, resulting in flooding during heavy rains and/or the regular presence of wastewater on streets and pedestrian pathways. Solid waste collection services are operational in some parts of the city (where the waste collection trucks are able to reach). However, a large proportion of the city residents (up to 50 percent) do not benefit from a waste collection service and hence solid waste is often dumped in the drains. Lack of data on water resources in the Douala area hinder the management of the resource. A thorough analysis of the existing state of surface and groundwater resources in the watershed surrounding Douala has not been undertaken. It is therefore not possible to predict the impact of river-basin activities on the water budget or water quality for Douala. In consequence, it is difficult to carry out water resources planning and management activities for the city and to evaluate whether the existing water resources will be sufficient to meet the needs of the growing city. A formal water policy paper does not yet exist, and the water law is outdated and not always applied. The foundations for water sector management are defined in the 1998 Water Law. This law recognizes that water is a national good to be managed and protected by the state. The law allows for the transfer of obligations for water management to local authorities and also allows for private sector participation for water services. Some principles of integrated water resources management are not mentioned in the 1998 Water Law. For example, the law does not allow for water management by river basin (or body of water). It does not make reference to integrated water and land management, nor to stakeholder participation in decision making. In addition, a formal water policy paper