Thirst? The future availability of drinking water in Beira, Mozambique

Abstract

The drinking water supply in Beira has improved over the last decade, nevertheless it is still characterised by the lack in quality and quantity. The coverage is suboptimal and especially the marginalised population suffers from a lack of access to safe, piped drinking water. These problems require the full and immediate attention of the drinking water company, FIPAG. Nevertheless, the occupation with the current problems prevents the adaptation to the impending impacts of climate change on the drinking water supply. In the future temperatures will increase causing an increase in the demand for water and moreover, the temperature increase affects the quality by increasing the speed with which the bacteria in the water multiply. Moreover an increase in the frequency and severity of floods and cyclones are projected to frequently disrupt the extraction, treatment and distribution of the drinking water supply. The current situation of the drinking water supply and the impacts of climate change especially are disadvantageous for the marginalised population of Beira.

Currently the governance of the drinking water supply and of climate adaptation in Beira is characterised by a lack of cooperation and coordination which prevents the sharing of information and the joining of forces in adapting to climate change. This hinders the incorporation of climate adaptation measures into the drinking water supply. The application of the model of Integrated and Adaptive Management of Water Resources would yield several distinct advantages such as increased cooperation, coordination, flexibility and accountability. Nevertheless, the model requires substantial institutional changes which are unlikely to occur in a region which is marked by political tensions. Reducing the magnitude of some of the recommendations would increase the feasibility and could add to cooperation between the environmental and the water sector in Beira and could thus contribute to climate adaptation of the drinking water supply. Fulltext available on request: r.doornewaard@gmail.com